Police cars rammed in Cookstown and Jonesborough

Two police patrol cars have been rammed in separate incidents on Friday night and Saturday morning.

The incidents happened in Cookstown, County Tyrone and Jonesborough, County Armagh.

Newry Mourne and Down Insp Alastair MacDonald said vehicles were “used as weapons against our officers”.

Two police officers were injured in the ramming in Cookstown.

At about 19:50 GMT on Friday, officers on patrol in Beechview in Cookstown signalled for a black Mercedes to stop.

The car attempted to reverse before turning and driving at the police, mounting a kerb and colliding with the police car.

The driver then drove off.

The two officers who suffered injuries are now off duty.

At about 01:55 on Saturday, police on patrol in Jonesborough saw a van exiting a car park, which then began reversing back into the car park.

When they approached the van, it drove forward and collided with the police car and then with a pillar a short distance away.

Officers arrested the driver on suspicion of a number of offences. He remains in police custody.

Insp MacDonald said it was “unacceptable that those working to keep their community safe should be targeted in this way”.

He said te officers involved in Friday night’s collision were not seriously injured.

“Our priority is their safety and welfare and, as an organisation, we will ensure support is available where it’s needed.”

Insp MacDonald added that the police cars “will now be off the road for repairs, which impacts on the local community”.

“Those responsible should expect to be brought before the courts to face the consequences of their actions,” he said.

Police have asked anyone with information to contact them.