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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. His next of kin have been informed.
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. Later, two soldiers from the patrol were injured in a firefight with a different Taleban force.
The death took the number of UK troops killed in combat operations in Afghanistan since 2001 to 53. The death took the number of UK troops killed in 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. Of the 53, 22 died from accidents, illness, or non-combat injuries, according to the MoD.
The government announced in February it would boost UK troop numbers in the country, with a total of 7,700 being stationed there by the summer.
Second incidentSecond 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.
Paramedics were called to the scene when the soldier was hit.
Their Chinook helicopter came under fire as it landed at the scene, while an Apache attack helicopter engaged Taleban forces with its 30mm cannon.
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. The second firefight lasted 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. The injured soldiers were also airlifted to Camp Bastion but their condition is not said to be serious.