LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, April 18 (Xinhua) -- An off-duty district police chief and two civilians have been killed during a shooting attack outside a mosque in Lashkar Gah, capital of Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand, a provincial government spokesman confirmed Saturday.
"Hajji Mohammad Dawari, police chief of Police District 8 of Lashkar Gah was martyred following a shooting attack outside a mosque in Police District 1 of the city on Friday. Dawari was not on duty when the incident occurred," spokesman Omar Zwak told Xinhua.
Two civilians, including a former provincial development official Mohammad Omar Qaneh and a child also lost their lives in the shooting which occurred roughly at midday, the official said.
The attackers fled the scene shortly after the shooting.
Civilians considered to be supporting the government, government employees, religious leaders, tribal elders and persons involved in peace and reconciliation efforts have come under attack in targeted killings over the past years.
The provincial government has condemned the attack and ordered the security forces to arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice, the official added.
The Taliban militant group fighting the government has denied involvement in the incident.
