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| British soldier dies after Afghan patrol base attack | British soldier dies after Afghan patrol base attack |
| (8 days later) | |
| A British soldier who was among those hurt when a suspected suicide car bomber attacked a patrol base in Afghanistan has died, the Ministry of Defence has said. | A British soldier who was among those hurt when a suspected suicide car bomber attacked a patrol base in Afghanistan has died, the Ministry of Defence has said. |
| The soldier, from the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire), was one of 10 UK troops injured in the blast on Monday evening in the Nad Ali district of Helmand province. | The soldier, from the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire), was one of 10 UK troops injured in the blast on Monday evening in the Nad Ali district of Helmand province. |
| Five insurgents were killed in the attack on the base on Monday night, which is jointly operated by the Afghan army and troops from Nato's International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf). | Five insurgents were killed in the attack on the base on Monday night, which is jointly operated by the Afghan army and troops from Nato's International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf). |
| Most of the British troops hurt were walking wounded, but one soldier had to be airlifted to Camp Bastion for treatment. He later died from his wounds, the MoD said. His next of kin have been informed. | Most of the British troops hurt were walking wounded, but one soldier had to be airlifted to Camp Bastion for treatment. He later died from his wounds, the MoD said. His next of kin have been informed. |
| Members of the Afghan national security force were also among the injured. | Members of the Afghan national security force were also among the injured. |
| Major Matt Allen, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is with deep regret that I must report the death of a soldier from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) who has died as a result of wounds sustained during an insurgent attack in Nad-e Ali in Helmand province. | Major Matt Allen, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is with deep regret that I must report the death of a soldier from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) who has died as a result of wounds sustained during an insurgent attack in Nad-e Ali in Helmand province. |
| "His death comes as a great loss to all serving in Task Force Helmand. Our thoughts and prayers are extended to his family and friends at this difficult time." | "His death comes as a great loss to all serving in Task Force Helmand. Our thoughts and prayers are extended to his family and friends at this difficult time." |
| Brigadier Bob Bruce, the commander of Task Force Helmand, said: "It was an attack by insurgents on a patrol base. The role of the patrol base is to keep the violence displaced into the desert areas. There was an attack. The patrol base held firm. The violence did not come into the populated areas, and therefore the patrol base did its job." | Brigadier Bob Bruce, the commander of Task Force Helmand, said: "It was an attack by insurgents on a patrol base. The role of the patrol base is to keep the violence displaced into the desert areas. There was an attack. The patrol base held firm. The violence did not come into the populated areas, and therefore the patrol base did its job." |
| The soldier is the eighth member of the UK's armed forces to have died during the current tour, which began last autumn. The total number of British personnel killed in Afghanistan is now 441. | The soldier is the eighth member of the UK's armed forces to have died during the current tour, which began last autumn. The total number of British personnel killed in Afghanistan is now 441. |
| Monday's attack was the boldest the insurgents have undertaken during the winter months. The deceased is the first UK soldier to have been killed in Afghanistan since January, making it one of the quietest tours the British have experienced since troops were deployed in 2006. | Monday's attack was the boldest the insurgents have undertaken during the winter months. The deceased is the first UK soldier to have been killed in Afghanistan since January, making it one of the quietest tours the British have experienced since troops were deployed in 2006. |
| Isaf said: "We can confirm that last night in Nad Ali district, Helmand province, insurgents attacked a combined Afghan and Isaf patrol base with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and small arms fire. A number of insurgents were killed. Several Isaf service members were wounded in the attack. The base is secured and fully operational." | Isaf said: "We can confirm that last night in Nad Ali district, Helmand province, insurgents attacked a combined Afghan and Isaf patrol base with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and small arms fire. A number of insurgents were killed. Several Isaf service members were wounded in the attack. The base is secured and fully operational." |
| Nad Ali was a Taliban hotbed when the British forces first arrived but has been regarded as one of the success stories in recent years, as British and Afghan forces have taken control of the populated areas and driven the insurgents into the desert hinterland. | Nad Ali was a Taliban hotbed when the British forces first arrived but has been regarded as one of the success stories in recent years, as British and Afghan forces have taken control of the populated areas and driven the insurgents into the desert hinterland. |
| It is one of the districts in Helmand that has been "transitioned" to Afghan control as Isaf steps back from frontline duties, leaving security almost entirely in the hands of the Afghans. | It is one of the districts in Helmand that has been "transitioned" to Afghan control as Isaf steps back from frontline duties, leaving security almost entirely in the hands of the Afghans. |
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