Last night police conducting routine patrols in Blacktown, in Sydney West, identified a car as stolen and began a pursuit.

The pursuit lasted until Leichhardt in the Inner West, where the car was cornered by a series of police vehicles in James Street.

The stolen car, operated by two masked individuals, reversed into an officer before fleeing, colliding with three police vehicles, two civilian cars, and a front fence during the escape attempt.

It was during this time that one of the officers fired their gun, and police also confirmed that a taser was used in an attempt to arrest the pair.

“During the attempted arrest, a single shot was discharged from a police firearm, and a taser was used in an effort to stop the vehicle’s occupants,” reported Acting Superintendent Adam Solah.

Solah said the situation was a dangerous one that endangered the lives of police officers and local residents.

“[It was] reckless, careless and extremely dangerous. It’s lucky no one was killed, including the police,” he said.

A short time later, the vehicle was abandoned on Crystal Street in Petersham; the two occupants were missing from the location and remain unidentified.

“This was an extremely dangerous event, with footage from James Street showing the vehicle driving along the footpath, nearly hitting residents who were uninvolved, merely standing outside their homes.”

The police officer who hit his head was taken to hospital and treated for minor concussion, but was released overnight.

Solah did not give further details surrounding the circumstances of the shot being fired, but confirmed the matter was being investigated.

“A neighbouring command is conducting an internal review of the circumstances of the incident overall,” he said.