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1st LD Writethru: 15 police killed in S. Afghanistan attack

Xinhua, August 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Some 15 police were killed following an armed attack in southern Afghan province of Helmand overnight Tuesday, reported local media on Wednesday.

"Up to 15 police personnel died after their checkpoint came under attack in Musa Qala district of Helmand province overnight," Tolo News aired in its news bulletin.

The attack took place after Taliban militants in police uniforms entered the checkpoint in the district north of provincial capital Lashkar Gah, and shot the police personnel dead, Bashir Ahmad Shahkir, a member of the provincial council, was quoted in the report as saying.

Further details about the incident are still forthcoming amid absence of official statements.

Helmand province, notorious for poppy growing, is also a known Taliban stronghold.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since mid-April when the militant group launched a yearly rebel offensive against Afghan security forces.

The Afghan soldiers and police casualties have risen this year as the United States and NATO troops in Afghanistan have switched from combat to support role, namely training, advising and assisting Afghan forces since Jan. 1. Endi