Two teenagers to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court over police operation to stop stolen car

TWO youths are to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged over a stolen car chase at the weekend.

A 17-year-old has been charged with handling stolen goods in relation to Saturday’s operation.

A 15-year-old has been charged with aggravated vehicle theft, handling stolen goods and other motoring offences.

As is normal procedure, the charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

Two other youths -aged 13 and 15 – have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

The four teenagers were arrested after officers stopped a suspected stolen car in west Belfast on Saturday.

The PSNI’s ‘India 49’ helicopter tracked the car after it was stolen in north Belfast.

The car was later spotted around noon on Saturday and officers mounted an operation to stop the car using a ‘Stinger’ device.

Sometime in the afternoon, the car was stopped in the Suffolk Road area.

One police officer was injured in the shoulder during the operation and was taken to hospital for treatment.

A police dog was deployed after the teenagers fled on foot after the car was stopped.