A soldier stole an armoured personnel carrier from a National Guard base in Virginia and took the vehicle on a two-hour drive that ended in a police chase through downtown Richmond, the state capital.

Police in Virginia pursue a soldier in a stolen armoured vehicle | https://t.co/CgfcCbEJEW pic.twitter.com/LlPDyBFr6n — RTÉ News (@rtenews) June 6, 2018

The unidentified man took the vehicle at about 7.50pm Tuesday from Fort Pickett, a Army National Guard base in Blackstone, Virginia, Virginia State Police Sgt. Keeli Hill told reporters at the scene.

The suspect then drove the military vehicle, which was not equipped with any weaponry, east on Route 460 and then north into Richmond on Interstate 95 at about 65km/h.

Police shot the suspect with a stun gun. He was identified as a military soldier, Sgt Hill said.

No crashes or injuries occurred during the incident.

Charges are pending against the man.