Two PSNI officers have been treated in hospital for injuries after their vehicle was rammed outside Newry.
Police have said a “significant search operation” is underway to find the suspect who rammed the vehicle while behind the wheel of a stolen car.
The incident happened at the Shepherd’s Way on-slip to the A1 dual carriageway at around 9.25am on Monday.
Officers had spotted a silver Volkswagen Passat that had been stolen around 30 minutes earlier in the Irish Street area of Armagh.
Upon attempting to stop the car, the driver reversed at speed and rammed the police vehicle before exiting and making off on foot.
Two officers were injured, while the police vehicle sustained serious damage, police said.
PSNI District Commander, Superintendent Norman Haslett, said both officers were taken to hospital.
“Any attack on our officers, who work tirelessly around the clock, often in challenging circumstances to protect the community, is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” he said.
“I condemn this incident in the strongest possible terms. An investigation is underway to bring the person responsible to justice and I wish both officers a speedy recovery.”
He said a “significant search operation is underway for the man who is described as being aged around 25 with blonde/ sandy brown hair and wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a grey top with green shoulders”.
