'Insider' attack kills two U.S. troops and three Afghan policeman in eastern Afghanistan

By Associated Press Reporter and Daily Mail Reporter

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Two U.S. forces were killed in eastern Afghanistan on Monday when a man wearing an Afghan police uniform opened fire at a U.S. special operations outpost in Wardak province in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. officials said.

The attacker stood up in the back of a police pickup truck, grabbed hold of a machine gun and started firing at the U.S. special operations forces and Afghan police in the police compound in Jalrez district, said the province's Deputy Police Chief Abdul Razaq Koraishi.

The assailant killed three Afghan policemen and wounded four, including the district police chief, before he was gunned down, Koraishi said.

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A man wearing an Afghan policeman's uniform, like the one seen here, opened fire on U.S. and Afghan forces in Wardak province on Monday

A man wearing an Afghan policeman's uniform, like the one seen here, opened fire on U.S. and Afghan forces in Wardak province on Monday

In a separate incident Monday, U.S. forces shot at an Afghan truck, center, killing two passengers and injuring another on the road between Kabul and Bagram, Afghanistan

In a separate incident Monday, U.S. forces shot at an Afghan truck, center, killing two passengers and injuring another on the road between Kabul and Bagram, Afghanistan

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. The group has falsely claimed responsibility for attacks in the past.

A coalition military official said two U.S. troops were killed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose information ahead of a formal statement.

Five Afghan police officers were being held for questioning by the Americans, Koraishi said.

 

The incident in Wardak province was the latest in a series of so-called insider attacks against coalition and Afghan forces that have threatened to undermine their alliance at a time when they need to work increasingly close together in order to hand over responsibility as planned next year.

The attack also comes a day after the expiration of the Afghan president's deadline for U.S. special forces to withdraw from the province following accusations of abuse by those under their command.

U.S. officials have said that they are working with Afghan counterparts on coming up with a solution that will answer President Hamid Karzai's concerns and maintain security in Wardak. The majority of U.S. troops in Wardak are special operations forces.

A U.S. soldier secures the scene after U.S. forces shot the Afghan truck

A U.S. soldier secures the scene after U.S. forces shot the Afghan truck

Afghan Police officers stand around a dead body after U.S. forces opened fire on a civilian truck

Afghan Police officers stand around a dead body after U.S. forces opened fire on a civilian truck

Karzai had ordered U.S. special operations forces to leave Wardak province, which lies just outside the capital, Kabul, because of allegations that Afghans working with the commandos were involved in abusive behavior. He gave them two weeks to leave, and the deadline expired at midnight Saturday.

In a separate incident on Monday, Afghan officials said U.S. troops shot and killed two Afghan civilians as their truck was approaching an American convoy.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi says the victims in Monday's incident were employees of a company that repairs police vehicles.

U.S. forces' spokesman Jamie Graybeal says the vehicle failed to heed instructions to stop as it came close to the convoy outside of the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the soldiers took 'appropriate measures to protect themselves.'

He confirms that two individuals were killed and says an assessment is under way. 

 

The comments below have not been moderated.

Sincere sympathy to the families concerned.

Click to rate     Rating   3

This is becoming quite a regular occurrence.

Click to rate     Rating   8

Can we leave now?

Click to rate     Rating   9

Time for us to get outta the big A. Too many lives have been lost already and sadly no gratitude I suspect down the line. All so unnecessary now.

Click to rate     Rating   14

In the past six months insider attacks have dropped by 80% from the previous period according to one of the other US established newspapers.

Click to rate     Rating   2

I think the afghans are trying to tell you to leave their country?

Click to rate     Rating   12

and AGAIN, HOW MANY MORE?

Click to rate     Rating   20

Now Justin Timberlake, Thats what you call "Funny".

Click to rate     Rating   8

I. HATE. WAR.

Click to rate     Rating   22

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