Man (22) held after stolen car crashes in Belfast

Three including driver taken to hospital after car hits stone pillar

PSNI officers approached a car on Great Victoria Street in Belfast in the early hours, having discovered it was stolen. When it was driven off they followed it.  The vehicle was driven through Millfield and on to the Cavehill Road before crashing into a stone pillar. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
PSNI officers approached a car on Great Victoria Street in Belfast in the early hours, having discovered it was stolen. When it was driven off they followed it. The vehicle was driven through Millfield and on to the Cavehill Road before crashing into a stone pillar. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times

Police have arrested a 22-year-old man after pursuing a stolen car at speed in north Belfast in the early hours.

Officers approached a car on Great Victoria Street, having discovered it was stolen. When it was driven off they followed it.

The vehicle was driven through Millfield and on to the Cavehill Road before crashing into a stone pillar.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving offences and taken to hospital. He has since been discharged and is being questioned at Musgrave Street custody suite.

Two female passengers, aged 24 and 26, were injured and taken to hospital. One is in intensive care and her condition is described as stable. The other has been discharged.

The incident has been reported to the Police Ombudsman’s office.

The car was stolen in a “creeper” burglary at a house in the North Circular Road area of Lisburn some time on Sunday night or early Monday morning when an intruder broke in, stole car keys and a number of electronic items, and made off in the car.

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