The hijacking of a black VW Polo Playa led to an arrest after police chase around the Pretoria city centre on Saturday morning, said police on Sunday.

At about 1.30am a VW Polo was allegedly hijacked in Sunnyside. The flying squad unit spotted the vehicle in Church Street after the incident was reported, said Captain Dennis Adriao.

A pursuit ensued and the alleged hijacker fired shots at the police, wounding a policeman in the leg.

The diplomatic police unit chased the vehicle into Prinsloo Street, where the hijacked vehicle crashed into a stationery Ford Focus.

A man was arrested as he attempted to escape and a firearm was recovered.

Police discovered that firearm was stolen in October during a house robbery in Kempton Park.

The suspect was previously arrested in 1995 and served a 11-year sentence, said Adriao.

He is expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Sapa