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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UK soldier killed in Afghanistan | UK soldier killed in Afghanistan |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A British soldier has died in Afghanistan after coming under small arms fire, defence officials have said. | A British soldier has died in Afghanistan after coming under small arms fire, defence officials have said. |
| The soldier, a member of the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, had been on a routine patrol. | The soldier, a member of the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, had been on a routine patrol. |
| The MoD said the attack happened after troops challenged a five-man Taleban team attempting to set-up an ambush. | The MoD said the attack happened after troops challenged a five-man Taleban team attempting to set-up an ambush. |
| Next of kin have been informed and have requested a period of 24 hours before further details are released, a spokesperson said. | Next of kin have been informed and have requested a period of 24 hours before further details are released, a spokesperson said. |
| The death took the number of UK troops killed in combat operations in Afghanistan since 2001 to 53. | |
| The government announced in February that it would boost UK troop numbers in the country, with a total of 7,700 being stationed there by the summer. | The government announced in February that it would boost UK troop numbers in the country, with a total of 7,700 being stationed there by the summer. |
| Second incident | Second incident |
| The soldier's regiment, known as the Vikings, is currently based near the town of Now Zad, in north-west Helmand province, in southern Afghanistan. | The soldier's regiment, known as the Vikings, is currently based near the town of Now Zad, in north-west Helmand province, in southern Afghanistan. |
| The MoD said the initial confrontation gave way to a firefight involving a larger Taleban force equipped with mortars, rockets, and heavy machine guns. | The MoD said the initial confrontation gave way to a firefight involving a larger Taleban force equipped with mortars, rockets, and heavy machine guns. |
| The soldier was airlifted to the main British base at Camp Bastion, but was pronounced dead on arrival. | The soldier was airlifted to the main British base at Camp Bastion, but was pronounced dead on arrival. |
| Later, the same patrol was engaged in another firefight with a different Taleban force for more than two hours. | Later, the same patrol was engaged in another firefight with a different Taleban force for more than two hours. |
| "An initial estimate is that a significant number of the enemy were killed," the MoD said. | "An initial estimate is that a significant number of the enemy were killed," the MoD said. |
| During the incident, two more soldiers were wounded. They were also airlifted to Camp Bastion but their condition is not said to be serious. | During the incident, two more soldiers were wounded. They were also airlifted to Camp Bastion but their condition is not said to be serious. |