Published Date: 16.11.2008

POLICE OMBUDSMAN APPEALS FOR INFORMATION AFTER IMPACT ROUNDS DISCHARGED AT BALLYBEEN

The Police Ombudsman has appealed for information after police discharged AEPs - attenuated energy projectiles, the replacement for baton guns - at a 75-year-old man who was armed with what appeared to be a revolver.

The man was struck by two AEPs before being arrested and taken to hospital. After examination it was established that he was fit to be released into police custody.

The man, who is 75, is understood to have sustained relatively minor injuries. He is still being held at Musgrave Street Police station.

The incident happened in the Ballybeen area on the outskirts of East Belfast shortly before 3am this (Sunday) morning.

The man had called police about an hour earlier in an agitated state and reported that he was armed.

Local police units responded and the PSNI's recently formed Armed Response Vehicle unit was sent to the scene. The incident was the first occasion on which the unit has discharged a firearm since its formation last month.

The scene at Enler Park Central has been forensically examined and Police Ombudsman investigators are conducting house-to-house enquiries. A firearm or replica firearm has been recovered and has been sent for tests.

Anyone who may have information about the incident is asked to contact the Police Ombudsman's freephone witness appeal line on 0800 032 7880.

ENDS