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Rogue Police Officer Kills 10 Afghan Comrades


Afghanistan -- Afghan policemen perform a drill during exercises at a police training centre in Herat, January 27, 2015
Afghanistan -- Afghan policemen perform a drill during exercises at a police training centre in Herat, January 27, 2015

A rogue police officer has first drugged and then shot dead 10 colleagues, the second such incident in the central province of Uruzgan in less than two weeks.

A manhunt was under way to track down the suspect, who authorities say likely has ties to the Taliban.

A Taliban spokesman confirmed the January 26 incident, but added the militants had also captured the police outpost in Chinarto district.

Commentators say the attack just after midnight is part of the Taliban's unprecedented winter campaign of nationwide violence despite a growing push to restart formal peace talks.

So-called insider attacks -- when Afghan soldiers or police turn their guns on their colleagues or on international troops -- have been a major problem during NATO's long years fighting alongside Afghan forces.

On January 17 nine Afghan policemen were shot dead in Uruzgan Province by four rogue colleagues said to be Taliban infiltrators.

Based on reporting by dpa and AFP

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