An Afghan soldier opened fire in his barracks in western Afghanistan Monday and killed four of his fellow troopers, an official said, suggesting the gunman may be linked to the Taliban. Seven other soldiers were hurt in the shooting in Herat province and the attacker was arrested, said provincial government spokeswoman Farzana Ahmadi.
"We don't know why he did it. He could be linked with the enemies of the government and people," she said, using a phrase often used to describe the Taliban. Officials meanwhile reported the killing of two security officers and two rebels in incidents linked to the Taliban insurgency. A policeman was killed in fighting which left two rebels dead late Sunday in the southern province of Ghazni, provincial police chief Alishah Ahmadzai said.