Berlin - Three Afghan civilians have been killed and a number of others injured in a shooting incident at a checkpoint manned by German troops and Afghan security forces near the northern city of Kunduz, the German Defence Ministry said in Berlin Friday.

The incident, which occurred to the south-east of the city in a region where German troops lead the operations of the international Security Assistance Force (ISAF), had taken place on Thursday evening, Defence Ministry spokesman Thomas Raabe said.

Two civilian vehicles approaching the checkpoint had failed to heed clear signals from the troops manning the checkpoint, and the security forces had then opened fire, Raabe said.

It was not clear whether German or Afghan forces had fired.

On Wednesday, a German soldier was killed in a roadside bombing in Chardara district in Kunduz Province. Three others were injured when a remote-controlled device blew up their armoured vehicle. (dpa)