Afghan police officer shoots and kills 9 colleagues

Afghan police officer shoots and kills 9 colleagues

2012-03-31 09:33:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

SHARAN, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Nine Afghan police officers were killed on late Friday morning when one of their colleagues opened fire in the southeastern region of the country, officials said. It comes after a series of incidents in which rogue Afghan security forces opened fire at coalition troops.

The shooting occurred at around 9 a.m. local time at a check post in the Yahyakhel district of Paktika province when a police officer opened fire at his sleeping colleagues. Afghan media said the shooter is believed to be the son of Mullah Ihsanullah, who was previously killed by the Taliban for cooperating with government officials.

Governor spokesman Mukhlis Afghan told the Pajhwok Afghan News agency that two police officials have been arrested on suspicious of being involved in the deadly shootings. A third policeman, the suspected shooter, was able to flee in a pickup truck carrying the weapons used during the attack. He remains at large.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack and said the gunman, who he identified as Sanaullah, had infiltrated the police force earlier this week. "Sanaullah, after accomplishing his mission, loaded all the weapons and ammo of the enemy in a ranger vehicle and left the area safe and sound," Mujahid said, adding that the gunman later joined other Taliban insurgents.

Friday's attack comes in the wake of a series of shooting incidents in which Afghan security forces turned their weapons on coalition service members. On Monday, two British soldiers were killed when an Afghan soldier opened fire at the entrance to a coalition base in southern Afghanistan. A U.S. soldier was killed hours later when he was shot by an Afghan police officer.

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