12 cops killed by ‘Taliban infiltrator’ in Afghanistan’s Helmand province

An infiltrator from the Taliban had broke into the ranks of police force and paved way for militants to target the police station

By: News Desk |
February 28, 2017 2:32 pm

At least 12 Afghan policemen were killed in an attack by Talibani militants in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province. According to Afghan officials, an infiltrator from the Taliban had broke into the ranks of police force and paved way for militants to target the police station in the regional capital of Lashkar Gah last night.

“An investigation is ongoing to find out if someone from inside has defected to the Taliban and paved the way for this crime,” a provincial official told Reuters.

The Taliban attacked a guard with silenced guns and then entered the check post,” Helmand deputy police chief Haji Gulai told reporters.

“They attacked other policemen with hand grenades and killed all of them. They later took their weapons and ammunition and escaped.” he said. Lashkar Gah has come under increasing threat from Taliban fighters as the militia now control most of Helmand. The city was previously the scene of heavy fighting between the Taliban and Nato-led forces before their withdrawal in 2014

British and U.S. forces suffered their heaviest casualties of the war in the province in years of fighting following the removal of the Taliban in 2001.