Ombudsman to investigate shots fired at car in Lisburn

The Police Ombudsman is to investigate an incident in which two shots were fired by an officer during an incident in the Lisburn area on Monday morning.

Police officers in Banbridge were contacted by a member of the public after a suspicious red Ford Escort was spotted in Newry. They subsequently followed the vehicle on the A1 towards Lisburn before both vehicles came into contact with each other.

When the pursuing officers approached the car after the collision, it sped off. One officer subsequently fired two shots at the car. The car was later found abandoned in the Lisburn area. An officer suffered a hand injury during the incident.

Meanwhile, an eight-year-old girl suffered cuts to her face when the car she was in was attacked by rioters on the Whitewell Road.

Around 60 rioters were involved in what police said were a “series of disturbances” in the area at 11:00 pm on Sunday night.

Petrol bombs were thrown onto the adjacent M2 motorway from the nearby Longlands Estate.

On man was arrested in connection with the disturbances on Sunday evening that were said to be the result of continued tension in north Belfast which has been the scene of occasional running street battles in the interface areas between nationalist and loyalists. (SP)