Police car rammed and officers assaulted near Strabane; two officers injured and driver arrested

A police patrol car was damaged after being hit head-on by a blue Ford van near Ballymagorry, close to Strabane, on Saturday afternoon. Two officers were injured and required hospital treatment, police said.

Officers had earlier attempted to stop the van after it was involved in a collision in the Newbuildings area of Londonderry. The vehicle continued to drive away and collided with the patrol car, head-on. The driver got out and assaulted both officers before being restrained and arrested on suspicion of multiple driving-related offences, as well as assault on police and resisting police.

Ch Insp Michael Gahan said the van had earlier been involved in a collision in the Newbuildings area of Londonderry. "A short time later the offending vehicle came to the attention of police outside Ballymagorry," the officer said. "Our officers put themselves on the front line to help keep people safe – they do not deserve to be assaulted for doing their jobs and in this case, attempting to stop a dangerous driver on our roads," he added.

"I would also like to commend two members of the public who stopped and assisted the officers at the scene as they faced challenging circumstances. Their actions were brave and admirable for intervening to help – a reflection of true community spirit," he added.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving-related offences, assault on police and resisting police, police said. The two officers were treated in hospital after the attack.