ALM In Waiting
14th Mar 2012, 17:41
Sky news and BBC reporting some kind of attempt to attack the runway at Bastion with a vehicle. More to follow apparently.
Last Updated 17:17 14/03/2012
A suspected car bomb attack has taken place at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.
The explosion came as US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta flew into the British base on Wednesday.
Map of area
It is believed that Mr Panetta was still landing or had landed at the time of the explosion, but it is not clear if he was a target.
An Isaf spokesman said that at no point was Mr Panetta or anyone on his plane in any danger.
Sky's Stuart Ramsay said the blast was caused when a vehicle drove on to the runway either during or after the landing.
Sky sources said the explosion did appear to be an "attack of some description".
The AFP news agency quoted a source who said the vehicle drove on the runway "as he (Mr Panetta) was landing".
The driver, who appears to have survived the attack, has been taken into custody and is being treated for burns.
A British soldier suffered injuries in an earlier incident which may have been linked to the same vehicle.
Sky sources have been told the explosion was caused by the driver of the vehicle.
An investigation has now been launched into the driver's identity.
He is believed to be a civilian employed at the base.
The base was put on immediate lockdown after the explosion this morning - but Mr Panetta is in Kabul this afternoon and in talks with the government.
The attack comes just days after a lone US soldier went on a rampage and murdered 16 Afghan civilians.
Tensions between the US and Afghanistan are running high in the wake of the killings.
This afternoon Prime Minister David Cameron is in Washington with US President Barack Obama, where they are holding a joint press conference on troops in Afghanistan.
Extra security measures in place for Mr Panetta's visit showed how nerves were on edge.
He landed at Camp Bastion so that he could visit troops at the US Camp Leatherneck, part of the same complex.
Last Updated 17:17 14/03/2012
A suspected car bomb attack has taken place at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.
The explosion came as US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta flew into the British base on Wednesday.
Map of area
It is believed that Mr Panetta was still landing or had landed at the time of the explosion, but it is not clear if he was a target.
An Isaf spokesman said that at no point was Mr Panetta or anyone on his plane in any danger.
Sky's Stuart Ramsay said the blast was caused when a vehicle drove on to the runway either during or after the landing.
Sky sources said the explosion did appear to be an "attack of some description".
The AFP news agency quoted a source who said the vehicle drove on the runway "as he (Mr Panetta) was landing".
The driver, who appears to have survived the attack, has been taken into custody and is being treated for burns.
A British soldier suffered injuries in an earlier incident which may have been linked to the same vehicle.
Sky sources have been told the explosion was caused by the driver of the vehicle.
An investigation has now been launched into the driver's identity.
He is believed to be a civilian employed at the base.
The base was put on immediate lockdown after the explosion this morning - but Mr Panetta is in Kabul this afternoon and in talks with the government.
The attack comes just days after a lone US soldier went on a rampage and murdered 16 Afghan civilians.
Tensions between the US and Afghanistan are running high in the wake of the killings.
This afternoon Prime Minister David Cameron is in Washington with US President Barack Obama, where they are holding a joint press conference on troops in Afghanistan.
Extra security measures in place for Mr Panetta's visit showed how nerves were on edge.
He landed at Camp Bastion so that he could visit troops at the US Camp Leatherneck, part of the same complex.