The police ombudsman has appealed for witnesses after police fired a Taser during an attempted armed robbery in west Belfast.

The incident happened shortly after 5.30pm last night close to the entrance to the Park Centre shopping complex.

One man, 28, was arrested after someone armed with a knife tried to rob a cash-in-transit van outside the shopping centre.

As with all discharges of tasers and firearms, the incident was referred by chief constable Sir Hugh Orde to ombudsman Al Hutchinson for independent investigation. Ombudsman investigators have been at the scene, which has been forensically examined.

The Taser was fired by specialist firearms officers and the man didn't require hospital treatment.

An ombudsman spokesman said: "Anyone who saw what happened is asked to contact the Police Ombudsman's Office on freephone 0800 032 7880 or 028 9082 8777."

Police have 12 Tasers, which can only be used by specially-trained officers.