The latest insider attack in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of six Afghan policemen, after a cook and policemen collaborated with outside insurgent fighters.

Officials said Saturday a rogue policeman and cook poisoned some of their colleagues and killed two of them at a checkpoint in Helmand province. They said armed insurgents then rushed to the scene and killed four more policemen.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Authorities said they have captured the policeman involved in the attack, but the cook remains at large.

Afghans have seen a recent surge in the number of insider attacks across the country, killing dozens of local security force members.

Insider attacks also have killed more than 50 foreign troops in Afghanistan this year.