Man, 27, arrested after PSNI officer hit by stolen police vehicle

What happened

Police in Northern Ireland say an officer was hit by a stolen police vehicle during an incident in Downpatrick, County Down, at about 4.45am on Sunday. According to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, officers had initially been following another vehicle that failed to stop in the Fountain Street area. After a foot chase, the officers returned to their car and found a man in the driver’s seat.

The PSNI says the man then drove directly at the officer. The officer fired one round from his firearm, but was still struck by the vehicle. He was taken to hospital by the Northern Ireland ambulance service and his injuries are believed to be serious but not life-threatening.

Investigation and police response

A 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody. PSNI said the stolen police car, the officer’s weapon and ammunition have all been seized for forensic examination. The police ombudsman for Northern Ireland has been informed, which is standard procedure when a police firearm is discharged.

Assistant chief constable Melanie Jones said urgent medical treatment was given at the scene by police colleagues, with support from members of the local community. She said the incident was a stark reminder of the dangers officers face and that detectives from the serious crime branch had launched an attempted murder investigation.

The force has asked anyone with CCTV, dashcam footage, or other information about what happened to contact police. The case now centres on both the alleged attack on the officer and the circumstances in which the police vehicle was taken and used.