Three officers were killed in a gunfight Thursday with suspected Islamic terrorists in Indonesia's province of Central Sulawesi, police said.

The clash happened as a group of 10 to 15 gunmen ambushed policemen patrolling in the village of Kolora in Poso district, said national police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar.

Three other officers were wounded in the gunfight, before the assailants fled into the jungle with one officer's gun, Amar said.

"They are being evacuated to hospital in the province's capital of Palu," Amar said. He identified all the victims as sergeants from the police's special forces unit. Nine other officers were unharmed.

One of the attackers was arrested, Amar said but he would not identify him.

He said the attackers were believed to be a group who escaped last week when police caught them preparing a location for military training.

In October two police officers were found dead in the region, which was the site of deadly religious clashes a decade ago.