12 Afghan police officers killed in possible insider attack in Lashkar Gah

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FILE – Afghan Local Police, ALP, listen to a speech during a ceremony presenting new uniforms for ALP at Gizab village of Uruzgan province south west of Kabul, Afghanistan, in this April 24, 2011 file photo. U.S. officials said Sunday Sept. 2, 2012 they have halted the training of Afghan Local Police for at least a month in order to carry out intensified vetting procedures on new recruits following a string of attacks by Afghan soldiers and police on their international allies. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)

Twelve Afghan police officers were killed in a possible insider attack in Helmand province, reports the BBC.

The attack occurred late Monday and was confirmed by a spokesman for the provincial governor’s office, but no details were given. A police source told the BBC that a Taliban infiltrator gave militants access to the outpost in Helmand province. Radio Free Europe reported that the infiltrator killed the police officers himself. The infiltrator is believed to have fled with the Taliban, according to the police source.

Local news reported that weapons and ammunition were seized from the outpost by the Taliban and a local hospital confirmed they had received at least 11 bodies.

A spokesman for the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

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Mackenzie Wolf is an editorial intern for Military Times.