Three charged over Belfast stolen car rampage

Three people were today charged over crash involving a stolen car in Belfast that left five police officers injured.

Three people were today charged over crash involving a stolen car in Belfast that left five police officers injured.

The car had collided with three police vehicles in the north of the city after it was seen speeding down the wrong way of two motorway stretches.

At one stage drivers had to swerve to avoid the car early yesterday morning.

At 4.14am, police received a report of a maroon-coloured Ford Escort travelling on the wrong side of the road at high speed on the M1 motorway in the direction of Lisburn.

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The vehicle was spotted again at 5am travelling on the West Link motorway on the wrong side of the road. The car then hit three police vehicles on Upper Regent Street in north Belfast.

Five police officers and one of the occupants of the stolen car were injured, none seriously.

Police made five arrests.

A 17-year-old youth was charged with aggravated vehicle taking. He has also been accused of assault on police, dangerous driving and driving while unfit and will appear before a magistrate in Belfast next month.

An 18-year-old is due in court tomorrow charged with allowing himself to be driven in a stolen car while a 23-year-old man faces the same offence.

Police said another two juveniles had been released while further reports are completed.