UK soldier killed in Afghan blast

The death takes the number of British troops killed in Afghanistan to 116

A British soldier has been killed in southern Afghanistan when insurgents attacked a patrol, Nato's International Security Assistance Force has said.

The serviceman died when an explosion hit a joint UK-Afghan patrol at 0825 local time in Helmand province.

The soldier was from 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, attached to 1st Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment.

Next of kin have been informed. Some 116 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001.

Medical facilities

The incident happened near forward operating base Attal in the Gereshk area of Helmand province.

One other Isaf soldier, an Afghan National Army soldier and the patrol interpreter were injured in the blast.

The soldier's body and the three casualties were airlifted to medical facilities at the British base at Camp Bastion.

Army spokesman Lt Col David Reynolds said: "Everyone is affected by the death of a soldier, and the thoughts and sympathies of us all are with the family at this most difficult time."

'Great sorrow'

About 70,000 international soldiers are operating in Afghanistan, most of them deployed under the UN-mandated Isaf.

Isaf spokesman Brig-Gen Richard Blanchette said: "It is with great sorrow that we must announce this brave soldier's death as we offer our sympathies to this soldier's loved ones.

"We have the utmost respect and admiration for the Isaf troops who operate in this challenging environment."

The death comes a week after Signaller Wayne Bland, 21, from Leeds, of 16 Signal Regiment, was killed when a suicide bomber drove a car into a Nato convoy on the outskirts of the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Meanwhile, the MoD has launched an investigation after three civilians were killed and four injured in Afghanistan in a rocket attack by British troops in the Sangin district of Helmand.

An International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) spokesman said the patrol launched the rockets in self-defence.