Brisbane bus attack: Mark O'Donohue faces court charged with Manmeet Alisher's murder.

A 48-year-old man has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of Brisbane City Council bus driver Manmeet Alisher, 11 counts of attempted murder relating to his passengers, and arson.

Anthony Mark Edward O’Donohue appeared briefly in the Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning.

Outside court, O’Donohue’s lawyer Adam Magill described the matter as “very heinous” and said he did not expect his client to apply for bail.

“His major concern as far as I’m concerned at this point in time is his mental health, that needs to be assessed,” he said.

“He’s numb at this stage … I don’t think he’s feeling anything at this point in time.

“He’s trying to come to terms with what happened himself.”

Police said yesterday Mr Alisher, 29, was killed when a flammable device was thrown at him while he was behind the wheel of a Brisbane City Council bus at Moorooka on the city’s southside.

Superintendent Jim Keogh said there was “no apparent motive” for the attack and that police had ruled out terrorism.

Today, bus drivers on the job across Brisbane are wearing black armbands as a sign of respect for their dead colleague, his friends and family.

A flag is flying at half mast over City Hall in the Brisbane CBD.

Delegates at the Queensland ALP conference on the Gold Coast this morning stood for a minute’s silence to mark the deaths of Mr Alisher and the four victims of the Dreamworld tragedy.

Six people were on the bus during the attack on Mr Alisher, who was also known as Manmeet Sharma.

Taxi driver ‘hero’ helped passengers escape

Taxi driver Aguek Nyok was nearby at the time and noticed the passengers in distress.

“They were saying, ‘open the door, open the door’ and there was no-one opening the door,” Mr Nyok said.

Police hailed Mr Nyok as a hero for kicking in the back door of the bus so the passengers could escape.

“I did break the back door to open it and then they started coming out (but) the fire was just getting higher and higher.”

Hundreds of people gathered for a vigil on Friday night at the scene of the attack, placing flowers, lighting candles and chanting.

Victim a talented actor and filmmaker: friend

Close friend Reshpal Singh was at the vigil and said Mr Alisher was a talented actor who produced short films and stage plays.

He said Mr Alisher was also a regular announcer on Brisbane’s 4EB ethnic radio station.

“He was a star in the Punjabi community and he will be dearly missed,” he said.

In India, friends and family of Mr Alisher have urged calm amid questions over whether the fatal attack was racially motivated.

O’Donohue is due to appear in court again on November 21.

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