TWO police officers who thought they were being shot at from inside a van and duly returned fire.

Only later did the police from Kansas City realise that the van was actually backfiring and the man inside was not armed. He was not injured by the shots fired by police.

Windows of the police car were also shot out by the officers as they exited the patrol car.

The officers were dispatched on a report of shots being fired from a white van just before 6pm last Thursday on Gregory Boulevard near Interstate 435.

When the officers got to the area they saw a white van parked on Gregory Boulevard and pulled up near it.

As they were getting out of the patrol car they heard the backfiring and fired their weapons. Police are continuing to investigate the incident.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/12/2425221/kc-police-fire-at-backfiring-van.html#ixzz15L9YubyV

Originally published as Backfiring van causes police commotion