This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8536776.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| British soldier shot in Helmand | British soldier shot in Helmand |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A British soldier has been shot, becoming the second UK serviceman to die in Afghanistan within 24 hours, the Ministry of Defence has said. | A British soldier has been shot, becoming the second UK serviceman to die in Afghanistan within 24 hours, the Ministry of Defence has said. |
| The man, from A Company, 4th Battalion The Rifles, died while on foot patrol near Sangin, Helmand, on Thursday. | The man, from A Company, 4th Battalion The Rifles, died while on foot patrol near Sangin, Helmand, on Thursday. |
| The ministry had earlier announced the death of an airman, of 2 Squadron, RAF Regiment and part of the Kandahar Airfield Defence Force, in a blast. | The ministry had earlier announced the death of an airman, of 2 Squadron, RAF Regiment and part of the Kandahar Airfield Defence Force, in a blast. |
| He died on Wednesday while on vehicle patrol. Both families have been told. | He died on Wednesday while on vehicle patrol. Both families have been told. |
| He died doing his duty and among his fellow airmen; his sacrifice will not be forgotten Lt Col David Wakefield Afghan blast kills British airman | He died doing his duty and among his fellow airmen; his sacrifice will not be forgotten Lt Col David Wakefield Afghan blast kills British airman |
| Neither death was connected to the ongoing Operation Moshtarak, which involves up to 15,000 Nato troops clearing the Taliban from parts of southern Helmand. | Neither death was connected to the ongoing Operation Moshtarak, which involves up to 15,000 Nato troops clearing the Taliban from parts of southern Helmand. |
| Some 4,000 British personnel have been involved in the offensive, alongside US and Afghan forces, with the aim of securing government control in the towns of Marjah and Nad Ali. | Some 4,000 British personnel have been involved in the offensive, alongside US and Afghan forces, with the aim of securing government control in the towns of Marjah and Nad Ali. |
| The spokesman for Britain's Task Force Helmand, Lt Col David Wakefield, said the soldier had been serving as part of the 3 Rifles Battle Group. | The spokesman for Britain's Task Force Helmand, Lt Col David Wakefield, said the soldier had been serving as part of the 3 Rifles Battle Group. |
| Loading.. | |
| "He was on a foot patrol, part of ongoing operations to protect the people of Sangin from insurgents, when his patrol was fired on," he said. | "He was on a foot patrol, part of ongoing operations to protect the people of Sangin from insurgents, when his patrol was fired on," he said. |
| "His courage and his selfless commitment will be sorely missed by us, his comrades; we will remember him." | "His courage and his selfless commitment will be sorely missed by us, his comrades; we will remember him." |
| The latest two deaths take the number of British service personnel killed in the conflict to 265. | The latest two deaths take the number of British service personnel killed in the conflict to 265. |