MojNews-An Afghan policeman in the southern province of Kandahar opened fire on his colleagues, killing seven other policemen before fleeing the scene, a provincial official said Monday. The Taliban claimed the attack, saying the policeman had joined their ranks.

The deadly shooting as the latest case of so-called “insider attacks,” instances when an Afghan policeman or soldier — or a Taliban insurgent wearing a police or military uniform — turns his weapon on Afghan forces or international troops.

Last week, two American soldiers were shot and killed by an Afghan soldier in the same Kandahar district. The attacker, who was wounded and taken into custody, was dubbed a “hero” by the Taliban, though the insurgents did not claim the assault.