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UK soldier killed in Afghan blast | |
(30 minutes later) | |
A British soldier has been killed in southern Afghanistan when insurgents attacked a patrol, Nato's International Security Assistance Force has said. | |
The serviceman died when an explosion hit a joint British-Afghan patrol at 0825 local time on Monday. | |
The soldier was from 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, attached to 1st Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment. | |
Next of kin have been informed. Some 116 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001. | |
Medical facilities | |
The incident happened near forward operating base Attal in the Gereshk area of Helmand province. | |
One other Isaf soldier, an Afghan National Army soldier and the patrol interpreter were injured in the blast | |
The soldier's body and the three casualties were airlifted to medical facilities at the British base at Camp Bastion. | |
Army spokesman Lt Col David Reynolds said: "Everyone is affected by the death of a soldier, and the thoughts and sympathies of us all are with the family at this most difficult time." | |
'Great sorrow' | |
About 70,000 international soldiers are operating in Afghanistan, most of them deployed under the UN-mandated Isaf. | About 70,000 international soldiers are operating in Afghanistan, most of them deployed under the UN-mandated Isaf. |
Isaf spokesman Brig-Gen Richard Blanchette said: "It is with great sorrow that we must announce this brave soldier's death as we offer our sympathies to this soldier's loved ones. | Isaf spokesman Brig-Gen Richard Blanchette said: "It is with great sorrow that we must announce this brave soldier's death as we offer our sympathies to this soldier's loved ones. |
"We have the utmost respect and admiration for the Isaf troops who operate in this challenging environment." | "We have the utmost respect and admiration for the Isaf troops who operate in this challenging environment." |
The death comes exactly a week after Signaller Wayne Bland, 21, from Leeds, of 16 Signal Regiment, was killed when a suicide bomber drove a car into a Nato convoy on the outskirts of the Afghan capital, Kabul. | The death comes exactly a week after Signaller Wayne Bland, 21, from Leeds, of 16 Signal Regiment, was killed when a suicide bomber drove a car into a Nato convoy on the outskirts of the Afghan capital, Kabul. |