Perak police chief Azizi Mat Aris said the incident occurred at about 4am, when three policemen on patrol at the Taman Soon Choon area here spotted a Toyota Harrier being driven in a suspicious manner and approached it.

“However, the car sped away towards the Gopeng toll plaza when approached by the police before it stopped after crashing into the boom barrier at the plaza, and, in reverse gear and at high speed, rammed into the police car which was trailing behind.

“This forced the police to fire three shots to stop the car before it came to a halt at Jalan Siputeh, Batu Gajah,” he said at a dinner with the media here last night.

He said the suspects, aged between 34 and 47, attempted to flee but were apprehended by the police after a struggle.

The suspects, all with addresses in Johor and records for theft, robbery and drug-related offences, have been remanded for four days from yesterday for investigation under Section 186 of the Penal Code.