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08/05/2009
NI Soldier Killed In Afghanistan
It has emerged today that a soldier from Belfast has been killed on active service in troubled Afghanistan.
He was shot and killed while on patrol in the Helmand Province yesterday.
Belfast man Sean Binnie, a soldier from the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, was patrolling with an Afghan National Army.
The 22-year-old, from the Ravenhill Road area of east Belfast, had just recently married his wife Amanda who is said in today's Belfast Telegraph to be "devastated" by his death.
He was killed during a 'reassurance patrol' with the Afghan National Army in the vicinity of Woqab, close to Musa Qaleh.
While forces in Afghanistan are now operating on a co-operative basis with local troops, since 2001, a total of 155 UK troops have been killed on operations there.
Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, said: "This is another tragic situation where we all feel this great loss.
"Words mean very little in this extremely sad situation but our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this brave soldier.
"Their pain is our pain and as the years go by we will mourn the loss of this true British hero."
The tragedy comes just days after British forces began leaving southern Iraq.
UK forces handed over the Coalition brigade command in a move which marked the transition from a combat mission to a bilateral relationship with Iraq.
(BMcC/JM)
He was shot and killed while on patrol in the Helmand Province yesterday.
Belfast man Sean Binnie, a soldier from the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, was patrolling with an Afghan National Army.
The 22-year-old, from the Ravenhill Road area of east Belfast, had just recently married his wife Amanda who is said in today's Belfast Telegraph to be "devastated" by his death.
He was killed during a 'reassurance patrol' with the Afghan National Army in the vicinity of Woqab, close to Musa Qaleh.
While forces in Afghanistan are now operating on a co-operative basis with local troops, since 2001, a total of 155 UK troops have been killed on operations there.
Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, said: "This is another tragic situation where we all feel this great loss.
"Words mean very little in this extremely sad situation but our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this brave soldier.
"Their pain is our pain and as the years go by we will mourn the loss of this true British hero."
The tragedy comes just days after British forces began leaving southern Iraq.
UK forces handed over the Coalition brigade command in a move which marked the transition from a combat mission to a bilateral relationship with Iraq.
(BMcC/JM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
