Belfast taxi driver threatened with a handgun and ordered to hand over money

A 36-year-old man has been arrested after a taxi driver was threatened with a firearm in Belfast during the early hours of this morning.

The taxi driver picked up a man in the Albertbridge Road area shortly after 2am on Thursday 17 November.

As the vehicle travelled through the city, the driver was threatened with a handgun and ordered to hand over money. The driver was able to alert a police patrol on Ormeau Avenue and when police approached the vehicle, the man fled. He was pursued on foot by an officer who also had the gun pointed at him during the chase.

After briefly losing sight of the suspect, officers arrested a man they located hiding in a garden in nearby Maryville Street a short time later. He remains in police custody this morning.

The firearm has been seized by police and will be subject to examination.

Investigating officers would like to hear from any witnesses or anyone who may have captured footage in the relevant areas between 2am and 2.30am this morning. The number to call is 101, quoting reference 146 17/11/22.

Information can also be provided via the non-emergency reporting form at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/