Taliban claim Kabul attack that killed 3 Americans, 1 Afghan

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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The gunman who killed three American contractors at the Kabul airport was in an Afghan uniform and was subsequently killed, a U.S. military spokesman said.

The spokesman, Rear Adm. John Kirby, said Friday that the attack that killed three civilian aircraft mechanics is under investigation.

Earlier Friday, the Taliban had claimed responsibility for the shootings. Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a statement that the shooter was a Taliban fighter who had infiltrated the ranks of Afghan security forces to stage the attack and was wearing an Afghan police uniform.

Kirby said the U.S. has no information to confirm or deny a Taliban role in the attack.

The shooting took place Thursday evening in an exclusively military section of the North Kabul International Airport complex.

An Afghan Defense Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is still ongoing, said the gunman was wearing an Afghan army uniform.

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Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report