JAKARTA: Suspected Islamic militants killed three police officers in Indonesia early Wednesday in apparent retaliation for the arrest and killing of members of their group, police said.

Twelve men surrounded a police station at Hamparan Perak, in Deli Serdang district of Sumatra island, and opened fire around 12:45 am (1745 GMT Tuesday), police spokesman Iskandar Hasan said.

"Three policemen were killed. It was a sudden attack and our officers weren`t ready," he said.

Police believe the assailants were linked to a group targeted in a series of raids on Sunday, which resulted in the deaths of three alleged militants and the arrest of 15 others.

The group are suspected of killing a police officer in a spectacular bank robbery in Medan city last month to raise funds for terrorist attacks.

Police said 15 militants managed to escape Sunday`s raids and remain at large.

BDST: 09:38 HRS, September 22, 2010