Five other members of the Asayish were wounded, including two who were listed as being in critical condition when they arrived at the hospital.

All those who were killed or hurt were stabbed, NRT reported.

Sulaimani Asayish Directorate’s Media and Relations Department said in a statement that a misunderstanding happened at the checkpoint at approximately 10:30 a.m. between the Asayish and passengers of a vehicle that belonged to members of the Peshmerga unit.

“The Peshmerga members attacked some Asayish personnel with knives and unfortunately Corporal Shakhawan Ahmad Mahmoud was martyred as a result of his heavy wounds and five other personnel were wounded,” read the statement.

An investigation is ongoing and those involved have been suspended from duty in the meantime.

Golden Force is affiliated with Kurdistan Region Vice President Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa, a senior member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

It was not immediately clear what precipitated the misunderstanding.

Reporter's code: 50101