Five PSNI officers have been injured after being deliberately targeted by a driver.

A 41-year-old man has been arrested after an incident in the early hours that left five officers injured.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed the incident in Carnlough, Antrim had been “a deliberate act”.

Officers were attending a separate incident at 2am when a BMW car was driven at an officer who was on foot. It then collided with a police vehicle before reversing into another patrol car which had been positioned to block it.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “The officer on foot sustained injuries to his hand and arm, and has been left shaken. Four officers within the two vehicles also sustained minor injuries, and significant damage was caused to both police vehicles, along with the BMW.

“This was a deliberate act directed at our officers who were on duty, working to keep people safe.”

It’s just the latest incident where PSNI officers have been targeted by vehicles.

Legislation in the current policing bill going through Parliament includes clauses to widen the offence of assaults against emergency workers – and toughens the penalty for offenders.

But that will take up to two years to become effective and will be reliant on courts using the maximum tariff.

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland said the latest incident was disgraceful: “We wish colleagues a full and speedy recovery.”