Northern Ireland

Boy (14) among three teens arrested following stolen car crash

Three boys, including a 14-year-old, were arrested after a stolen car collided with another vehicle at a busy junction in west Belfast
Three boys, including a 14-year-old, were arrested after a stolen car collided with another vehicle at a busy junction in west Belfast Three boys, including a 14-year-old, were arrested after a stolen car collided with another vehicle at a busy junction in west Belfast

A 14-year-old boy and two other teenagers were arrested yesterday after a stolen car crashed into another vehicle at a busy junction in west Belfast.

Police said several sets of car keys were taken just after 8am yesterday in a burglary at a house in The Green area of Dunmurry.

The householder then reported four people entering the driveway at 11.20am and making off in a small blue Volkswagen car.

The car was spotted in North Howard Street where it collided with a police vehicle, injuring two officers.

A spokesman said officers from the autocrime team signalled for it to stop using lights and sirens in the busy Millfield area in the city centre, but it drove through a red light at the Westlink junction before overtaking a long line of traffic.

It then collided with a van near the International Wall on the Falls Road at around 12.20pm, before being abandoned near Albert Street. The occupants attempted to make off.

A 16-year-old boy was later arrested on suspicion of several driving offences, burglary and possession of a Class C drug.

Another 16-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of driving offences, while a 14-year-old boy was held in relation to driving offences and possession of a Class C drug.

Police believe there were four people in the stolen car and appealed for anyone who witnessed any of the incidents to get in contact.

Two sets of car keys were recovered but officers were said to be "still on the lookout for a set belonging to a Skoda".

It comes less than a week after residents of the lower Falls area came together for a rally against anti-social behaviour.

Representatives said the community is being tormented by youths involved in drug abuse, street disturbances and car crime.

Earlier this month, a would-be street robber was photographed trying to take a French visitor's camera gear in Albert Street.

The tourist had just visited the nearby International Wall when he was targeted and it later emerged there have been more than a dozen tourists mugged in the area in recent months.

Sinn Fein assembly member Fra McCann said last night: "Once again, we are seeing people who have no regard at all for this community. It could have resulted in death or injury. This area has had enough".