Yasir Khan, who lived with his mother in Crawley, West Sussex, was among three Britons killed in US raids on Kabul, according to Islamic group al-Muhajiroun.

He had gone back to his family village before the bombing started as he wanted to help with humanitarian work

Friend of Mr Khan

On Tuesday, a family friend of Mr Khan said he was a "good Muslim". His former employer, an airline food company at Gatwick Airport, said security checks revealed "nothing worrying" about him.

The family friend, who did not want to be named, said Mr Khan had gone to help with humanitarian work, and was praying at a mosque when the bomb struck.

Two other British Muslims who allegedly died in the action were named by al-Muhajiroun as Aftab Manzoor, 25, and Afzal Munir, in his 20s, both from Luton, Bedfordshire.

Warning

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has issued a warning to other British Muslims of the dangers of joining the Taleban.

He said on Monday those who survived could face legal action if they made it home.

Airline caterers LSG Sky Chefs said Mr Khan was dismissed when he refused to accept a new role within the company following the 11 September terror attacks in America.

Mr Khan lived with his mother in Crawley, Sussex

A company spokesman added that Mr Khan, who would have had access to aircraft as part of his job, had passed all security checks.

He said: "There was nothing unusual or worrying. He was dismissed because he refused to accept a change of work.

"After September 11, there were many planes grounded so we asked him to do something else. He refused."

Mr Khan's mother was not available for comment on Tuesday at her home in the Broadfield area of Crawley.

Friends of Luton man Mr Manzoor, a courier, insisted he must have died in a car accident while visiting his wife and baby daughter in Pakistan, rather than during a US bombing raid.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "He's a practising Muslim, but I wouldn't see him as one of the Taleban."

'Fighting a jihad'

Hasan Butt, leader of the al-Muhajiroun in Lahore, Pakistan, said the men had gone to Afghanistan in early October to wage jihad (holy war) against the unjust policies of America.

But he added that the three men were not members of al-Muhajiroun.

The US bombing campaign is entering its fourth week

He told the BBC that he had confirmed reports of up to 100 Muslim men coming from the West to fight a jihad, 60% of whom he believed were from Britain.

"It's absolutely normal for any Muslim... to be more than happy to go and sacrifice his life for the noblest cause on this earth, which is to live and die for Islam."

The al-Muhajiroun claims hundreds of Muslims are making their way to Pakistan.

It is one of the several international Islamic groups which operate in Pakistan to promote the establishment of a true Islamic state.