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Truck 'driven at' runway during Panetta's Afghan visit | Truck 'driven at' runway during Panetta's Afghan visit |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A member of Nato forces in Afghanistan has been injured in an incident involving a vehicle during a visit by US defence secretary Leon Panetta. | A member of Nato forces in Afghanistan has been injured in an incident involving a vehicle during a visit by US defence secretary Leon Panetta. |
A pick-up truck was driven onto a runway of the main British base in the southern province of Helmand, Camp Bastion, before it burst into flames. | A pick-up truck was driven onto a runway of the main British base in the southern province of Helmand, Camp Bastion, before it burst into flames. |
The Afghan driver of the truck suffered burns and has been arrested. | The Afghan driver of the truck suffered burns and has been arrested. |
Meanwhile the US serviceman suspected of killing 16 Afghan civilians has been flown out of the country. | |
US military officials did not say where he had been taken. | |
"He has been flown outside of the country, based on legal recommendation," Pentagon spokesman Capt John Kirby said. | |
There are conflicting reports of the sequence of events inside the high-security area at Camp Bastion as Mr Panetta's plane flew in on Wednesday. | |
Capt Kirby said a pick-up truck drove at high speed onto the ramp where Mr Panetta's plane was intended to stop. | |
The vehicle ended up crashing into a ditch, he said. The Nato serviceman was injured as the vehicle was stolen. | |
George Little, a spokesman travelling with the US defence secretary, said the driver of the vehicle ended up on fire. | George Little, a spokesman travelling with the US defence secretary, said the driver of the vehicle ended up on fire. |
He said Mr Panetta's plane was diverted after it landed and before it was parked. | He said Mr Panetta's plane was diverted after it landed and before it was parked. |
Neither Mr Panetta nor anyone on board the plane was at risk at any time, he said. | |
A flash was seen from the vehicle, but military sources have told the BBC that they would be "wary" of describing it as an explosion as an investigation is under way. | A flash was seen from the vehicle, but military sources have told the BBC that they would be "wary" of describing it as an explosion as an investigation is under way. |
Initial reports suggest that no explosive devices have been found on the truck. | Initial reports suggest that no explosive devices have been found on the truck. |
The driver was an Afghan civilian employed at the base, who was badly hurt and is being treated in hospital. | The driver was an Afghan civilian employed at the base, who was badly hurt and is being treated in hospital. |
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul, who has visited the camp many times, says there is an enormous level of security at the base. | The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul, who has visited the camp many times, says there is an enormous level of security at the base. |
Camp Bastion is one of the world's busiest airports, he says, because of the volume of helicopter and aeroplane flights landing and taking off. | Camp Bastion is one of the world's busiest airports, he says, because of the volume of helicopter and aeroplane flights landing and taking off. |
Mr Panetta's visit to Helmand comes as the US seeks to contain the fallout from the shooting of 16 Afghan villagers on Sunday. | |
The US defence secretary was in Helmand to address US troops, as fears mount that they could be the target of a backlash against foreign forces. | |
He has since left the province for Kabul. | He has since left the province for Kabul. |