Police officer shot and struck by stolen police car in Northern Ireland

A police officer was seriously injured early Sunday in Downpatrick, County Down, after being struck by a stolen police car and discharging his firearm during a foot chase, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

The incident began at about 04:45 BST when a vehicle failed to stop for police on Fountain Street. Officers later found the vehicle in the Ballymote Walk area of the town. A man ran from the vehicle and officers pursued him on foot towards the nearby Colmcille Road.

When officers returned to their police car, a man was in the driver's seat and drove directly towards an officer, according to Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones. The officer "discharged one round from his firearm" and was struck by the stolen police car. The suspect then abandoned the car and fled the scene.

"Urgent medical treatment was provided at the scene by police colleagues, who were also supported by members of the local community," Jones said. The officer was taken to hospital by ambulance. His injuries are "serious, but thankfully not life-threatening at this time," she added.

A 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Detectives from the PSNI's Serious Crime branch have launched an attempted murder investigation.

The stolen police car, the officer's weapon and ammunition have all been taken for forensic examination, the PSNI confirmed.

"As is standard procedure when a police firearm is drawn, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has been informed - and their enquiries are ongoing," Jones said.

The Police Ombudsman's Office confirmed its investigators attended the scene. "We have been gathering relevant information, including any available video evidence, to assess the circumstances," said Nikki Davis, Director of Investigations at the Police Ombudsman's Office. "Our thoughts are with the police officer who has been injured during the incident in Downpatrick and their colleague who was present," she added.

Jones described the incident as "a terrifying experience for the officer and also his colleagues - with the clear potential to cause life-changing or even fatal injuries." She added: "Officers put themselves on the front line to help keep people safe - they do not deserve to be assaulted for simply doing their job, and today's incident is a stark reminder of the dangers they face."

The PSNI appealed for anyone with information or CCTV, dash-cam or other footage to contact them.