Blast kills one aboard NATO helicopter in eastern Afghanistan

Blast kills one aboard NATO helicopter in eastern Afghanistan

2010-10-12 17:27:06 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- One person was killed and several others were injured after an explosion onboard a NATO helicopter in eastern Afghanistan on early Tuesday morning, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

The explosion happened just after the Chinook helicopter landed in the country's Kunar province, but ISAF provided no specifics as to where the incident happened. "The helicopter was on the ground in Kunar province when an explosion of unknown origin occurred," ISAF said.

Al Jazeera reported that the Taliban had claimed responsibility for the attack, but it was not immediately clear how credible the claim is. The Taliban regularly claims responsibility for attacks that have not happened or were unlikely to have been carried out by them.

ISAF said one person was killed while eight NATO service members were evacuated to an ISAF medical facility in Kunar province, adding that 26 people were on board the Chinook helicopter. It was not immediately clear who the fatality was, but an ISAF spokesman said he or she was not a NATO service member.

The helicopter landing site was secured by Afghan and ISAF soldiers after the explosion took place. The alliance said an investigation into the blast is underway.

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