Afghan official: Taliban target police checkpoint, killing 5
By Associated Press
Nov 17, 2018 6:50 AM CST

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — An Afghan official says that at least five police officers have been killed when their checkpoint came under attack by insurgents in the northwestern Badghis province.

Abdul Aziz Beg, head of the provincial council, says three other police were wounded and another detained by the Taliban early Saturday morning in the Qadis district.

Beg said the gun battle lasted about an hour with casualties among Taliban too, but did not provide an exact figure.

Taliban insurgents claimed the attack in Qadis, saying they seized ammunition from the checkpoint.

The Taliban in recent years has taken over almost half of the country and have stepped up their attacks on security forces.