Afghan police officer shoots and kills 6 colleagues

[News_Editor]

Afghan police officer shoots and kills 6 colleagues

2011-06-23 00:00:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

GHAZNI, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- An Afghan police officer opened fire at his colleagues at a checkpoint in the country's south on Wednesday morning, killing six fellow police officers, officials said.

The attack occurred at around 8.30 a.m. local time at the Moshiki checkpoint in the Qaragh district of Afghanistan's southern province of Ghazni when a policeman opened fire on other security officers, Afghan National Army (ANA) provincial commander Colonel Daud Shah Wafadar told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Initial statements made by provincial police chief Colonel Zarawar Zahid indicated that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber against a police checkpoint in the area. However, ANA officials later ruled out a suicide blast and said it was a colleague who opened fire.

Prior to the attack, the gunman had removed the other officers' weapons to prevent them from returning fire and allowing the attacker to flee. A search is underway to capture him.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the shooting attack, but the credibility of the claim could not be confirmed. The militant group often claims credit for attacks which were carried out by other groups, or which were not motivated by terrorism at all.

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