Three men were arrested by police following a car hijacking close to the centre of Belfast early today.
A police car was rammed, a man injured and a replica handgun recovered during the incident which followed trouble at a restaurant in Botanic Avenue.
Police said three men left the restaurant following an incident and confronted a man who was getting out of his car in nearby India Street.
One of the trio produced what was thought to be a handgun, assaulted the car driver and seized his vehicle.
A passing police patrol was flagged down and as they investigated, the three men tried to escape by ramming the patrol car with the hijacked vehicle.
They were arrested and a replica handgun recovered from the stolen car, said a police spokesman. The man injured when his car was seized was treated in hospital for minor injuries, said the spokesman.
PA