On 22 June 2013, route 26 was included in the sale of First London's Lea Interchange garage to Tower Transit.[3][4] When next tendered, it was awarded to CT Plus with the new contract commencing on 27 February 2016.[5][6][7][8] It is operated out of Ash Grove garage.[9]
On 21 July 2005, would-be bomber Muktar Said Ibrahim attempted to explode a device contained in his rucksack on a number 26 bus on Hackney Road in Bethnal Green near Shoreditch. A small explosion on the top deck caused the vehicle's windows to explode, but the device did not detonate as intended and there was no significant damage. The vehicle, operated by Stagecoach London, was stopped and a 200-yard safety cordon established while the bomb was defused.[10][11]
Ibrahim left the bus following the failed attack, but was later caught. He and five other men were taken to court in January 2007, and his DNA was found on a battery used in the bomb.[12] He was convicted in July 2007 and sentenced to life imprisonment.[13]
Current route
Route 26 operates via these primary locations:[14]
Media related to London Buses route 26 at Wikimedia Commons
