ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

Three federal police were killed in a shootout in the center of capital Addis Ababa early Thursday, according to police.

The incident took place at Wolo Sefer area, the busiest neighborhood along Bole road when an allegedly drunk police officer opened fire and killed two colleagues.

A team of police -- charged in the area to bring the situation under control -- gunned the assailant down, a local media outlet Fana Broadcasting Corporate quoted Federal Police Commissioner Jemal Zeinu as saying.

The alleged attacker is a fresh graduate and joined the Federal Police force last year, a police told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Following the incident, the road is operational after a couple hours of closure.