( CNN ) -- Gunmen pretending to be an official security force opened fire on police at numerous checkpoints in Haditha , Iraq , early Monday , killing 27 , authorities said . Three of the attackers were killed in shootouts with officers , according to Khalid Salman , head of the Haditha local council . In addition to the 27 killed , three officers were wounded , Salman said . At least 14 black SUVs with more than 30 gunmen disguised in SWAT-style uniforms entered the town at about 2 a.m. , Salman said . The gunmen were carrying forged arrest warrants for senior police officers . `` Iraqi security forces believe that those attackers drove all the way down from desert areas close to Bayji , about 200 km ( 124 miles ) north of Haditha , '' Salman said . When they arrived at the first police checkpoint on the northern outskirts of town , they ordered all local police officers to turn off their cell phones , Salman said . `` The attackers told local police at that checkpoint that they have arrest warrants issued from Baghdad against two senior police officers in Haditha , '' he said . `` All seven local police at that checkpoint were convinced after the attackers showed them forged arrest warrants , and they agreed to switch off their phones -- and later , all were killed in cold blood . '' The gunmen then headed to the Haditha police station , where they convinced officers they were an official force sent by the federal government to carry out the arrests , Salman said . Later , the attackers went to the home of the commander of Haditha 's SWAT force , Captain Khalid Daham , and killed him , Salman said . The former commander of emergency police in Haditha , Mohammed Hassan , was also killed inside his house along with two of his bodyguards . At one point , Haditha police officials began to suspect the gunmen . When they asked them to stop until they involve more security officials in their mission , the gunmen began clashes with security forces that lasted an hour , Salman said . Three of the attackers were killed during the clashes , but only one body was left behind , and the attackers managed to flee the town , Salman added . During the clashes , the attackers raised the black flags of Islamic State of Iraq -- an umbrella group which includes al Qaeda in Iraq . The attackers also left some leaflets behind warning Iraqi security that they will carry out more attacks , Salman said . `` This was a serious security breach in the town , '' Salman said . But he said he also blames the central government because in the past , Iraqi security forces have been sent to carry out arrests without notifying the local security forces . `` Those gunmen took advantage of this miscommunication between the central government and the local authorities in Haditha , '' Salman said . `` We hold the Iraqi army full responsible for this incident because they are responsible for securing the highways that link towns and cities with each other , '' the Anbar Provincial Council said in a statement read by Sadoun al-Jumaily , deputy president . The province will hold a three-day mourning period , the council said . Haditha , in Anbar province , is predominantly Sunni town about 360 km ( 224 miles ) west of Baghdad . Anbar was once dominated by Sunni insurgents but is now under control of Iraqi security forces . The province is a vast territory in which Iraq shares borders with Syria , Jordan , and Saudi Arabia . Much of the region is desert , and most of the residents live in the towns and cities . The Islamic State of Iraq has been behind numerous recent attacks . On February 23 , a series of explosions and shootings killed at least 44 people and wounded more than 200 in Baghdad and elsewhere . The Islamic State of Iraq claimed responsibility . CNN 's Josh Levs contributed to this report .
More than 30 gunmen entered the town in disguise . The gunmen were dressed in SWAT-style uniforms , authorities said . They carried forged arrest warrants , says head of Haditha local council . Provincial council blames Iraqi army for not securing highways .