Man arrested after car rammed into home

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after police said a driver deliberately drove a vehicle into a home while armed with an axe.

The PSNI said they responded to reports of an emergency in Altcar Park in Derry at around 2.40am on Tuesday.

Officers said they found a 36-year-old man armed with an axe and “deliberately driving a vehicle into a residential property”.

Superintendent Claire Hamilton said officers twice deployed incapacitant spray but he produced another knife and continued to ram the property with his vehicle.

She said after “prolonged negotiations”, officers fired an attenuating energy projectile, which hit the man in the leg.

She said he was arrested shortly before 4am on suspicion of multiple offences, including four counts of attempted murder and remains in custody.

Hamilton said: “Extensive damage was caused to the property and a nearby vehicle.

“Thankfully, although they were very shaken by their terrifying ordeal, the four occupants of the property were brought to safety by officers and are otherwise uninjured.”