Man arrested after police cars rammed in west Belfast
A man has been arrested after two police cars were rammed and four officers injured after a pursuit in west Belfast.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers followed the black Audi A4 after it failed to stop for officers in Servia Street at around 02:30 GMT on Saturday.
The 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving when unfit, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police. He remains in custody.
The officers sustained minor injuries but remained on duty.
When the pursuit began the car was seen weaving onto the wrong side of the road, failing to give way at junctions and driving the wrong way around a roundabout, police said.
A short time later the vehicle was brought to a stop in the Upper Springfield Road by two police callsigns but the suspect driver reverse rammed one of the police vehicles.
An officer was in the process of exiting the stopped police car when it was rammed.
The officer was jolted into the doorframe.
The driver of the suspect vehicle then crashed into a second police vehicle when attempting to make off again.
The two police cars, which were damaged, are currently off the road being repaired.
PSNI Chief Inspector Pete Cunningham said it was fortunate "we are not dealing with more serious injuries today"
"Members of the public could have also been injured during this completely reckless and dangerous incident," he added.
Police have appealed for anyone with information or footage to come forward.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Anti-racism rally in Belfast after days of violence
Demonstrators gathered in Belfast city centre to show support for Northern Ireland's migrant community following a week of disorder. People in the crowd held signs with slogans such as "racists go home", "refugees are welcome" and "diversity makes us stronger". Violence started on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena, County Antrim, and later spread to other areas. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said "bigots and racists" were behind the rioting. Speaking at the anti-racism rally at Belfast City Hall, Nathalie Donnelly from trade union Unison said she had colleagues from ethnic minority backgrounds who were terrified and "basically hiding at home". "They get to work in taxis, come home and hide in their own houses," she told BBC News NI. "We've got a small English class every week - half of the students didn't even dare to come out for the English class." Ms Donnelly said even people who had lived in Northern Ireland for a long time had an "overwhelming sense of sadness and disgust at what is happening and are really questioning staying here". Ms Donnelly, who is originally from France, said she had "made Ireland [her] home" but she felt it was "no longer the Ireland that [she is] proud of". "We should make Ireland the island of a hundred thousand welcomes again," she said. Friday night saw a fifth night of violence when police in Portadown, County Armagh, used water cannon to tackle rioters who were attacking them. Officers were targeted with petrol bombs, fireworks, masonry, bricks and bottles. Police in Londonderry also dealt with disorder in the Tullyally area from Friday night into Saturday morning. Damage was caused to playing fields and property in Killeavey Road in Newry in County Down when a large group of people set a pitch and bins on fire. Stones were thrown at the windows of a hotel in Newtownabbey and a car was set on fire in Hesketh Gardens Belfast, which police are treating a racially motivated hate crime. At the demo at City Hall, Belfast's deputy lord mayor said he wanted to show solidarity to people who had been targeted in the unrest. Representatives of other political parties and trade unions joined Paul Doherty at the event and there was a small police presence. Doherty said the demonstration was about standing up to "racist thugs who have been on our streets intimidating and threatening families and driving them from their homes". "We're speaking to people right across this city, indeed right across the north, who are afraid to walk down the street, who are afraid to bring their children to school, who are afraid to say hello to someone as they pass them on the street," he said. Doherty added that one parent told him their children were asking: "Daddy why do people hate us out there?" "Imagine children - five, six, seven years of age - asking their parents 'why do people hate us?' That's not the type of society we want in Belfast or across the north," he said. "We need to bring a stop to this." Doherty said the police and Northern Ireland Executive "need to step up" and "a better response" was needed from the PSNI. The force has said it will do all it can to bring people to justice and on Friday it issued images of people it wants to speak to in connection with the violence. More PSNI officers were injured in Portadown on Friday night, with more than 60 physically hurt over the course of the past week. Police have made 21 arrests following disorder in various parts of Northern Ireland, with 13 charged. Four have appeared in court and been remanded in custody. Monday A peaceful protest is held in Ballymena, County Antrim, after two teenage boys appear before Coleraine Magistrates' Court accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. They spoke through an interpreter in Romanian to confirm their names and ages. Their solicitor said they would be denying the charges. Later in the day, violence breaks out when a number of people wearing masks break away from the peaceful protest, build barricades and attack properties on Clonavon Terrace. People throw petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks at police. Tuesday Protesters attack police during another night of disorder in Ballymena. Cars are set on fire and the windows of several houses are smashed. Police also deal with sporadic incidents of disorder in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus in County Antrim and north Belfast. Wednesday The worst of the disorder is again in Ballymena, but unrest also spreads to other towns. In Larne, County Antrim, masked youths attack a leisure centre and set it on fire. The centre had been providing emergency shelter for families. Police Scotland agrees to send officers to Northern Ireland to provide support. Thursday A fourth night of disorder, but at a lower level than seen earlier in the week. About 400 protestors gather in the centre of Portadown, County Armagh. Bricks and masonry are thrown at police. There is also a police presence in Ballymena, but the rioters stay away. Around 100 people turn up at an anti-racism protest in west Belfast, which passes off peacefully. The home of a family with three children is set on fire in Coleraine. Friday Police in Portadown use water cannon to tackle rioters but the violence is again at a lower level than earlier in the week. Police release photos of four suspects they want the public to help identify in connection with the disorder. How a peaceful protest descended into hate-filled violence Bulgarian mother of two leaving Ballymena 'to save my children' Does the PSNI have the resources needed to deal with the riots?
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Police release new image as they probe days of disorder in Northern Ireland
Police in Northern Ireland have released an image of a man they want to speak to as part of their investigation into recent disturbances in the region. The latest image follows four released by police on Friday as officers investigate offences during several nights of unrest. A PSNI spokesperson said: 'Can you identify the following individual? 'Police would like to speak with these persons, in connection with our ongoing investigation into a number of incidents of disorder and attacks on police officers since Monday 9 June 2025 in the Ballymena area. 'We are asking these individuals to come forward to police, or anyone who can assist in identifying these individuals should contact us on 101. 'Please do not comment on this post with information.' Anyone with information or who wishes to submit photos and footage, including CCTV, mobile phone or dashcam footage, can share it through the Major Incident Public Portal at
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
More police officers hurt during fifth night of violence in Northern Ireland
More police officers were injured as heavy masonry and fireworks were thrown during disorder on Friday night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said. A senior officer warned that the force is actively investigating people inciting the disorder through social media. The scenes on Friday night in Portadown were the fifth consecutive night of rioting in the region after serious disturbances in Ballymena on Monday. There was disorder in Portadown and Derry/Londonderry on Friday evening. Officers were injured and arrests were made. Read more: — Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) June 14, 2025 The violence, which followed an alleged sex attack on a teenage girl in the Co Antrim town, has since spread to several other parts of Northern Ireland. On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of people attended a rally in Belfast city centre which heard calls for greater political leadership in opposing racism. More than 60 police officers have been hurt during the rioting. A PSNI spokesperson said: 'Disorder and violence broke out in Portadown with officers coming under sustained attack with heavy masonry and fireworks thrown at them. 'Officers used various public order tactics including water cannon to keep the public safe with no reports of injury to the public or damage to property.' Two males, aged 14 and 20, were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and remain in custody. Police in Londonderry dealt with disorder in the Tullyally area. A police vehicle was damaged, with the front window smashed. One male was arrested at around 2.20am and remains in custody. Damage was caused to playing fields and property in the Killeavey Road area of Newry as a large group set a pitch and bins on fire. One 14-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of riot. Stones were thrown at the windows of a hotel in the Newtownabbey area and a car was set on fire in the Hesketh Gardens area of Belfast, which police are treating as a racially motivated crime. The disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town last weekend. Two 14-year-old boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged with attempted rape. A peaceful protest about the alleged assault on Monday evening was followed by attacks on properties housing ethnic minorities and police. The PSNI described the scenes as 'racist thuggery'. Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: 'It's deeply disturbing to see such young members of our communities involved in and in some areas driving criminal activity like this. 'I would appeal directly to parents and guardians to speak to your children about the impact their behaviour is having on the safety of our local communities and the impact this could have on their lives if arrested, charged and prosecuted. 'We continue to have a heightened presence in our local communities to de-escalate violence and we are making arrests and will continue to make public appeals with photos of suspects. 'Do you want your child, family member or friend directly associated with this disorder in this way? These actions are not without serious consequence. 'I am so grateful to our frontline officers who continue to put themselves at risk in protecting everyone from this hate-motivated criminality.' Ms Jones added: 'To those posting hate on social media, inciting disorder or being seen to commit disorder, we are actively investigating what you have said and what you have been captured doing. 'We have an ongoing physical and online presence. 'As our investigation continues, we have already released images of four individuals we want to identify and interview in connection with our ongoing investigation. 'In releasing these images, I am asking the wider community to step forward and help us. 'It is in all of our interests, and in the interests of justice, that those responsible are dealt with and I would urge anyone who may have information to bring it forward. 'It is important to know over the remainder of this weekend the public will continue to see a large policing presence across Northern Ireland to reassure our communities and protect our streets. 'This will include the deployment of mutual aid resources from Scotland. These officers, trained to work in our environment, will be working side by side with their PSNI colleagues. 'We repeat, once more, our appeal for calm across Northern Ireland in the coming days.'