'Suicide bomber tries to blow up Defense Secretary Panetta with truck' in Afghanistan... and then fights U.S. soldiers even though he's ON FIRE

• Afghan civilian fought with British soldier and stole truck
• Drove vehicle onto tunway where Leon Panetta was landing
• Man burst into flames then fought with U.S. troops, who tackled him
• Poses disturbing questions over security at Afghan base Camp Bastion
• Comes days after rogue U.S. soldier massacred 16 Afghans
• In a highly unusual move, U.S. Marines were told to leave their weapons outside the tent where Panetta was set to speak
  

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 15:43 GMT, 14 March 2012 | UPDATED: 22:20 GMT, 14 March 2012

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta was the apparent target of a suicide bomber at Britain's main base in Afghanistan today.

An Afghan civilian apparently stole a truck from a British soldier after injuring the soldier in a struggle, then drove onto a runway at Camp Bastion where Mr Panetta was landing.

The man crashed into a ditch, then seems to have set himself on fire and fought with NATO troops, who managed to tackle him and put out the fire.

The incident has raised disturbing questions over security at the base, just days after a rogue U.S. soldiers killed 16 civilians and weeks after American troops were caught burning Korans.

The driver, a local male civilian employed at the base, is being treated at Camp Bastion's hospital for his injuries, a spokesman at the base said.

He started his apparent attack by taking a truck from a British soldier, who suffered a broken pelvis while trying to stop the hijacker.

FULL STORY: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2114951/Suicide-bomber-targ...