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British soldier shot in Helmand | British soldier shot in Helmand |
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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. |
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"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. |