At least four people were killed after unidentified armed men opened fire on a private ambulance in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said.

The attack took place in the Bannu district, an area that has seen repeated incidents of militant and criminal violence in recent years.

According to local police sources, the gunmen targeted the ambulance while it was travelling in the area, killing all four occupants inside the vehicle.

Police said no survivors were found at the scene.

Shortly after the incident was reported, a large police contingent was deployed to the area. The bodies were later transferred to a nearby hospital for post-mortem examinations.

Authorities cordoned off the site and collected forensic evidence as part of an ongoing investigation.

Officials said the ambulance was a private vehicle and the victims were believed to be middle-aged men, although their identities have not yet been confirmed.

Security forces launched a search operation to locate the attackers.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Investigations are ongoing. (ILKHA)