25/02/2010

Shot Soldier Is Second To Die

A British soldier has been shot dead today and has become the second UK serviceman to die in Afghanistan within 24 hours.

The Ministry of Defence has said the man, from A Company, 4th Battalion The Rifles, died while on foot patrol near Sangin, Helmand, on Thursday.

The MoD had earlier announced the death of an airman, of 2 Squadron, RAF Regiment and part of the Kandahar Airfield Defence Force.

He was part of a vehicle mounted patrol and died from wounds received as a result of an explosion which occurred in an area north of Kandahar Airfield in Kandahar province.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, said: "It is my sad duty to inform you that an airman from 2 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, part of the Kandahar Airfield Defence Regiment, was killed this evening as a result of an explosion.

"He was on a mobile patrol in an area about four kilometres north of Kandahar Airfield when the explosion happened.

"He died doing his duty and among his fellow airmen; his sacrifice will not be forgotten."

The MoD said the death was not connected to Operation MOSHTARAK.

Next of kin of the fallen soliders have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.

The latest two deaths take the number of British service personnel killed in the conflict to 265.

(PR/GK)

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