Two police officers have been injured, one of them seriously, after they were dragged by a car in Newcastle, Co Down.
The incident happened early yesterday when the officers stopped a car with four people on board at the Shimna Road. They told the driver to get out. However when he was talking to them, he ran back to the car and sped off, dragging the two policemen with him.
One officer fell off after a few yards, but the second was dragged along the road for about 200 yards. He sustained multiple head injuries and is in a serious condition in hospital. The other officer was treated in hospital for leg injuries, and later released.
Other police in the area threw a stinger device across the road in front of the car, puncturing a tyre. However, the vehicle drove on, and was recorded at speeds of up to 90 m.p.h.
The car was eventually stopped several miles away in Drumaness after a second stinger was put across the road, puncturing the remaining tyres.
The PSNI said the two officers were carrying out traffic duties in Newcastle at around 1 a.m. when they stopped a white Audi with the four people on board.
A 21-year-old man was arrested after the car came to a halt, but there were no passengers in the vehicle. He was last night being questioned by detectives. The car had not been stolen.