German soldiers operating in northern Afghan city of Kunduz killed one civilian and wounded another Sunday, according to local police, dpa reported.

The two men approached the German soldiers in a car travelling at high speed and refused to slow down, despite warnings, causing the Germans to open fire, Mohammad Rasak Jakubi, Kunduz provincial police chief told the German Press Agency dpa. One man later died in a hospital.

German military authorities confirmed that their troops opened fire on the speeding vehicle. Spokesman Jurgen Mertins noted that there had been threats of a suicide attack, which led the Germans to set up a checkpoint that snarled traffic. The vehicle that was fired upon had attempted to break out of the traffic snarl, he said.

Afghan authorities were investigating whether the two men may have been militants.