U.K. Soldiers Killed By Attacker In Afghan Police Uniform

Britain has announced that the three NATO soldiers who were shot dead in Afghanistan by a man wearing an Afghan police uniform were British.

The shooting occurred at a checkpoint in southern Helmand Province.

The British Defense Ministry said the soldiers were part of a police advisory team that had visited the checkpoint to conduct a shura, or meeting of village elders.

The statement said a man wearing the uniform of the Afghan National Civil Order Police opened fire with a small arm as the soldiers were leaving the checkpoint, killing them.

The deaths bring to at least 26 the number of killings so far this year involving Afghan security forces attacking their NATO allies, and raises to 422 the number of British troops killed in Afghanistan since 2001.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters