Man hit by Taser after cash raid

The Taser was fired by specialist firearms officers.

A man has been shot with a police taser gun after an attempted armed robbery in west Belfast.

It happened after a man armed with a knife tried to rob a cash in transit van outside a shopping centre on the Donegall Road at about 1745 GMT.

The Taser was fired by specialist firearms officers. The man did not require hospital treatment, a police spokeswoman said.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested over the attempted robbery.

The police ombudsman has been informed of the incident.

At the end of last month, the High Court ruled the police could continue using the controversial stun gun.

The PSNI has 12 Tasers which can only be used by specially-trained officers.

It has been used once before in Northern Ireland.