02/03/2010

Solider Shot Dead In Helmand

A British solider has been killed in a gun attack in the Afghan province of Helmand.

The Ministry of Defence said the A Company trooper, with the 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 RIFLES) died as a result of small arms fire near Sangin.

He was part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group on patrol yesterday morning.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, said: "It is my sad duty to inform you that a soldier from 4 RIFLES, serving as part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group, died this morning near Sangin in northern Helmand province.

"He was on a foot patrol about 700 metres east of Patrol Base Blenheim, to the north east of Sangin district centre.

"The patrol he was on was part of ongoing operations by the 3 RIFLES Battle Group to expand the area of security around the district centre, when he was shot and killed by small arms fire.

"He died doing his duty, boldly confronting the enemy; we will remember him."

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

The death was not connected to Operation MOSHTARAK, an MoD spokesman said.

Troops in Afghanistan were visited by the Prince Royal yesterday. He spent time in the forces' main base, Camp Bastion.

(PR/GK)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

28 May 2009
Soldier Dies In Southern Afghanistan
A British soldier has been killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. The serviceman from the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment was on an operation near Garmsir in Helmand Province, and next of kin have been informed.
17 February 2009
Rifles Solider Killed In Helmand
A solider from the 1st Battalion The Rifles has been killed while on patrol in the southern Afghan city of Helmand The Ministry of Defence said the solider had been on foot near Lashkar Gah, close to the British forces' HQ in the region. It is believed the solider had been on a joint mission with UK and Afghan troops when the attack happened.
19 January 2011
Rifles Finalise Training For Afghanistan
British troops - from 1st Battalion The Rifles - have been going through the final stages of their pre-deployment training for their upcoming deployment to Helmand at the mock Afghan village at the Stanford Training Area in Norfolk. The troops are due to deploy in March 2011 with 3 Commando Brigade (3 Cdo Bde).
14 August 2009
More Troops Killed in Afghanistan
Three British soldiers have died in an explosion while on patrol in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. These latest deaths bring the total number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan since operations began to just one short of 200 fatalities.
17 April 2014
Met Report 'One Of The Biggest Gun Hauls Ever'
A haul of 30 firearms have been recovered by the Metropolitan Police in what has been described as "one of the biggest gun hauls ever". Assault rifles, sawn-off shotguns and a Thompson machine gun are among the weapons seized from an address in Leyton, police have said.