KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) — An Afghan policeman opened fire at a training center in western Afghanistan on Sunday, killing three Americans, a police official told CNN.
The Afghan official, who declined to be named, said the three victims were most probably trainers at the West Zone Police Training Center in Herat province. The shooter was also killed, the official said.
NATO spokesman Maj. Adam Wojack said the three killed were civilian contractors working for the International Security Assistance Force. He could not confirm their nationality or what their specific jobs were.
The Army Times reports that a “person wearing an Afghan national security force uniform turned his weapon Sunday against civilian contractors with the U.S.-led military coalition, killing three.”
The Army Times also reports that “Afghan security forces or militants dressed in their uniforms have been killing a rising number of coalition forces, but they have not been specifically targeting contractors working for the coalition. So far this year, 26 foreign troops have been killed in this type of attacks.”
Additionally, five NATO service members were killed in roadside bombings over the past two days. The Army Times reports that these deaths bring the number of foreign forces killed in July to 32, and a total of 247 so far this year.
The Afghan police official said it was not immediately known whether the attacker had links to any insurgent groups. The motive for the shooting was also unknown.
More information will be released Monday, he said.
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