Taliban claims responsibility for suicide attack that killed 3 policemen in Afghanistan's Panjshir province

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 1 (UPI) -- 12 people died, including three policemen, on Thursday when a suicide bomber attacked a busy checkpoint in central Afghanistan's Panjshir province.

The Taliban claimed responsibility via text message.

The suicide bomber drove his vehicle to the check point at approximately 5:00 p.m. local time and detonated the explosives before security officers could respond.

Ministry of Interior spokesman Sediq Sediqqi tweeted an update regarding the casualties from Thursday's attack:

Thursday's attack was launched in the Dalan Sang area of the Panjshir Valley, an area considered symbolic to Taliban resistance, and the home of many Afghan government officials whose influence has helped protect the valley.

The May 1 suicide bombing coincided with Afghan Forces Capabilities Day.