PESHAWAR/LANDI KOTAL, July 5: A policeman was shot dead by an unidentified masked man in a targeted attack in Peshawar on Friday.

Officials said that a constable of the Peshtakhara police station was performing duty outside a church in Umeedabad area when an unidentified masked man opened firing on him and injured him seriously.

They said that the constable received bullets in his chest. He was taken to Khyber Teaching Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The deceased policeman was identified as Shehzad Gul, a resident of Naguman area.

According to police, the incident took place at around 8am. Quoting eyewitnesses, police said that the assailant was alone. He was armed with a pistol and managed to escape after firing at the policeman, they added.

In Khyber Agency, two tribesmen were killed and three others received injuries when armed persons attacked a passenger vehicle in Bara tehsil on Friday.

Sources said that more than 12 Akkakhel tribesmen were on their way home in a passenger pick-up when unidentified gunmen ambushed the vehicle near Zawa area.

The firing at the vehicle resulted in killing of Mohammad Khan and Juma Dar, they said, adding that Abdul Matin, Zar Khan and Noor Said were injured critically in the attack.

Sources said that the area was infested with members of some banned militant groups who were carrying out attacks against security forces and volunteers of local pro-government peace committees.