British soldier killed in blast
A BRITISH solider has been killed by an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said yesterday.
The soldier, from 1st Battalion the Rifles, was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on foot patrol on Friday in the Shaparak area of the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province.
His family has been informed.
A spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Maj Rolf Kurth, said: “The soldier was part of a foot patrol promoting a local community engagement project when he was killed in an explosion.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
The number of British service personnel who have died since operations began in Afghanistan in 2001 now totals 379.