Stingers deployed in police chase as e-bike riders run riot in Belfast - riding the wrong way down the Westlink

The road had to be closed after the incident, which followed a police chase from west Belfast towards the city centre.

Officers received reports of three Surron-style electric bikes being driven dangerously in the area – where a stinger device was used on all three.

One vehicle was stopped – but two made off towards the busy Westlink – where one rider came off. Two males then attempted to escape on one bike – travelling against the flow of traffic.

Police have praised the officers involved in the operation, saying they stopped yet another tragedy on Northern Ireland’s roads.

The incident comes after weeks two high profile tragedies in England and the Republic of Ireland involving young people, some of them children, in vehicles travelling the wrong way down busy roads.

Police constables Matthew Blades and Tom Clough died near Middlesborough last month when their vehicle was struck by a car going the wrong way down a dual carriageway. Five young men in the vehicle that struck them also died.

The previous week, five teenage boys died in the head-on collision on the M9 in Kildare. Their vehicle was travelling the wrong way down the motorway when it struck a car in which four family members were seriously injured.

Two arrests have been made over the incident in Belfast on Saturday night.

District Commander, Superintendent Mark Conway, said: “At around 8.45pm last night, officers responded to three Surron-style electric bikes driving dangerously and at high speed in the west Belfast area.

“A stinger device was subsequently deployed on all three. However, while one of the e-bikes was then abandoned, the remaining two riders continued driving at speed towards Belfast city centre and onto the West Link, city-bound.

"One of the riders came off their bike and was picked up as a passenger by the other rider, with both then travelling against the flow of the traffic on the same bike.

"Thankfully, our officers were able to stop the e-bike safely, without any further incident. While this was ongoing, the West Link was closed for a time to allow emergency services and collision procedures to be completed. It was reopened again in the early hours of this morning, Sunday, 20th September.

“A 17-year-old male and a 20-year-old man were subsequently arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicle-taking in which a vehicle is driven dangerously.

“The 20-year-old was further arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving, carrying an unauthorised passenger on a motor bicycle, failing to stop for police and other driving-related offences, including using a motor vehicle without insurance.

“Both males were taken to hospital for precautionary assessment following the collision and both remain in police custody at this time.

“The actions of our officers last night no doubt prevented further immediate danger to road-users and avoided what could have been another potential tragedy on our roads.

“We would remind people that the dangerous or reckless use of e-bikes on public roads will be dealt with robustly. Electric bikes are not for use on public roads and our officers will continue to take a proactive approach towards the illegal and dangerous use of e-bikes and, where appropriate, use their powers to seize illegal vehicles which are being used on roads and public places.

“These vehicles can pose a significant risk to riders, pedestrians and other road-users, particularly when they are being ridden dangerously and at excessive speeds.

“Our enquiries into last night’s incident are ongoing and we would appeal to anyone with any information - including dash-cam or other footage - to contact police using our witness appeal form at https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals, quoting reference 1383 of 19/09/26, or to call us on 101.”

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.