'Act of God' saved RIR soldiers

The mother of a Londonderry soldier injured in a Taleban attack in Afghanistan has said it was a miracle he was not killed.

Ranger David Pepper and five of his Royal Irish Regiment colleagues were wounded when they were ambushed in Helmand province last week.

He suffered shrapnel wounds and injured his back in last week's attack.

His mother, Jacqueline Pepper, said their lives had been saved by an "act of God".

"Luckily enough nobody was killed, David has told us since that the vehicle split in two," she said.

"He was driving the vehicle and he has told us it was the gearbox below him that took the blast."

An Army spokesperson said an improvised explosive device was used.

The extent of the other men's injuries is not known.