Incident Summary:

05/22/2006: On their way from Baghran to the Musa Qala (District) in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, three police officers were killed and six others wounded in an ambush by members of the Taliban. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that eight policemen had been ‘gunned down’ and three police vehicles were ‘set a blaze.’

GTD ID:
200605220010

When:
2006-05-22

Country:
Afghanistan

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Helmand

City:
Unknown

Location Details:
Event occurred on the road between Baghran and Musa Qala in Helmand province.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Police
Name of Entity Afghan Police
Specific Description Afghan Police Forces in Helmand Province
Nationality of Target Afghanistan
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Incendiary Arson/Fire
Weapon Details
The police officers were said to have been 'gunned down' and their vehicles 'set ablaze.'
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information The police stated that three police officers were killed and three others wounded in the attack, bu Taliban spokesman Yusof Ahmadi claimed that eight policemen had been 'gunned down' and three police vehicles 'set ablaze.' The police chief of southern Helmand Province, Abdorrahman Saber, escaped unharmed from the attack.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Taliban (suspected) Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Unknown)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 3 Fatalities / 6 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 3
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 6
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
“Afghanistan: Taliban Kill Three Senior Policemen in Helmand; Police Chief Escapes,” Kabul Pajhwok Afghan News, May 23, 2006.