Taliban claims it crashed NATO helicopter

HELMAND, Afghanistan, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Taliban officials have claimed responsibility for a NATO helicopter that was downed in the Helmand province of Afghanistan on Monday.

The civilian craft, contracted to NATO, crashed in the Nad Ali district of the Helmand province. A spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force told The Daily Telegraph the site where the helicopter came down had been secured. However, he declined to comment on the cause of the crash or any casualties.

Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, claimed that the Taliban shot the aircraft down.

"Our Mujahideen downed a white helicopter in Nad Ali district that was supplying foreign troops in Afghanistan," he said. "The helicopter was on fire and all on board were killed."

Kamaluddin Shirzad, a senior detective for Helmand police said the crash was caused by technical problems.

In the past, the Taliban has claimed responsibility for aircraft crashes that were caused by technical problems. However, last August, a Taliban fighter did shoot down a NATO helicopter southwest of Kabul, killing all 38 passengers.