DETECTIVES have arrested a 38 year old man on suspicion of attempted armed robbery, carrying a firearm with intent and attempted grevious bodily harm with intent.

The incident happened in the Ardmoulin Street area of west Belfast in the early hours of this morning, June 30.

The arrest followed the police pursuit of a silver Audi A3 car which had been reported to have been involved in the attempted robbery of a shop in the Lockview Road area of south Belfast at around 8pm on Sunday 29th June.

It is understoo that two men had got out of the silver Audi A3 car whilst one man remained in the driver’s seat outside the shop in Lockview Road.

One of the men was reported to have been carrying a firearm.

Staff at the shop locked the doors preventing the men access to the shop and the men then got back into the car and made off.

Two police cars were damaged and three officers injured following a collision with the Audi and a suspect firearm was recovered from the vehicle.

The officers have been treated for non life threatening injuries and the man remains in custody helping police with their enquiries.

Officers are appealing to anyone who was in the Lockview Road area at around 8pm on Sunday and noticed a silver Audi A3 car with up to three men on board acting suspiciously or who saw the car in the Ardmoulin Street area at around 3am or who has any information to contact them at CID in Musgrave on the non-emergency number 101.

Information can also be passed anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.