A vehicle belonging to a United Nations came under fire in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dera Ismail Khan when it avoided a picket set up by unidentified armed men in the area on Tuesday.

The incident occurred within the limits of Hatala Police Station in DI Khan, sources within the police and locals told Aaj News. The UN vehicle was out collecting water samples when it was targeted.

The unidentified men were stopping and searching passenger vehicles in the area. Seeing the suspicious individuals, the UN personnel inside the vehicle asked the driver to drive off, upon which the armed men opened fire from behind. A bullet hit the tyre of the vehicle.

The UN vehicle, with a punctured tyre, then entered the Tank area where the police rescued the personnel. Sources added that all the officials riding in the bulletproof vehicle remained safe, although the vehicle suffered minor damage from the firing.

The police have launched a search operation in the area to apprehend the perpetrators.