A pistol shot splintered a side window of a Western Union van after it was intercepted by two masked robbers in an attempted hold-up in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The police reported today that two masked persons in a white vehicle intercepted a Western Union van carrying cash at Paloni Road in Nuku'alofa on August 27 and one masked person armed with a pistol got out and fired at the vehicle after demanding money

The Acting Deputy Police Commander Soakai Motu'apuaka said the attempted robbery happened at 2:39am when the Western Union van was returning from Fua'amotu International Airport. They were intercepted by a white vehicle in front of Tonga Side School.

He said one of the masked persons dressed in black, armed with a pistol, got out of the white vehicle and demanded money from the three people in the Western Union vehicle.

The windows of the Western vehicle were up and locked but then two of the Western Union staff members who were on the other side of the car opened the doors and ran out.

He said the armed masked person then opened fire and the right rear door window was hit and splintered. The driver of the Western Union van then quickly drove off and went straight to the Central Police station.

"No one was hurt and the police escorted the Western Union vehicle with the money to its safe location," he said.

In the meantime, the stolen getaway vehicle used by the offenders had been captured after it was found abandoned at Havelu.

The Acting Deputy Police Commander said the two offenders had not been found and investigation continues.

Western Union confirmed that their van was carrying a staff teller, a security officer and driver when it was overtaken and forced to stop after turning off Taufa'ahau Road into the Paloni Road. No money was stolen.

Supermarket robbery

Previously on August 16, a masked offender who robbed the Phoenix Supermarket on Fatafehi Road in Nuku'alofa and fled with over $300 cash had also not been captured.

The offender was armed with a pistol and threatened the supermarket owner and fled with the cash. In this incident there were two masked offenders, a driver who was believed to be male and the unknown masked person with the pistol.

The police have not confirmed any connection between the two crimes.