Northern Ireland

Two PSNI officers injured after police car struck by van in Co Armagh

Two PSNI officers were injured after the police car was struck
Two PSNI officers were injured after the police car was struck Two PSNI officers were injured after the police car was struck

Two police officers were injured after their car was struck by a van in Co Armagh.

They were on patrol at Corrasmoo Road, Crossmaglen yestersday when they received a report of a dark blue Transit-type van causing an obstruction in the area at around 11.20pm.

A police spokeswoman said: "When officers stopped to speak with the van driver, the driver made off at speed, ramming the police vehicle and injuring one of the officers who was getting out of the car to investigate.

"The officer suffered leg and arm injuries while his colleague sustained injuries to his wrist and back".

PSNI Superintendent Norman Haslett described it as "reckless incident which has left two of our officers injured".

"These were officers from the local policing team in Crossmaglen who were carrying out their duties to keep people and the community safe," he said

"Unfortunately, due to the nature of the injuries sustained by our officers, they have been unable to return to duty today.

"We have also had to take the police vehicle off the road so it can be examined for road worthiness, which affects our service delivery. There is also the impact in terms of our officers and their welfare, as well as the cost of repairs to the vehicle.

"We are working to locate both the van and the driver involved in this cowardly incident and we are appealing to anyone who was in the area and witnessed the incident, or has information which may assist us, to call us."

It comes just a week after three police officers were injured after their car was rammed by a lorry in Jonesborough.

Police and HMRC colleagues were conducting a a joint enforcement operation on a commercial site on Edenappa Road in south Armagh when the car was struck.

Damage was also caused to the police car
Damage was also caused to the police car Damage was also caused to the police car