Soldier killed by roadside bomb

2:24am Thursday 24th July 2008

A British soldier was killed by a suspected roadside bomb after his patrol came under fire in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said.

The soldier, from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, attached to 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, died on Tuesday night after being injured in an explosion in the Kajaki area of Helmand in southern Afghanistan.

He was one of two soldiers injured in the blast - a third soldier had been injured moments before when a mine went off as the patrol returned fire.

The soldiers were leaving the scene when the roadside bomb went off.

Next of kin have been informed.

An MoD spokesman said their routine patrol came under enemy fire at 6.18pm local time on Tuesday.

He went on: "Whilst returning fire one soldier from 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment was injured by a mine. While leaving the scene after suppressing the enemy, a vehicle other soldiers were travelling in hit a suspected improvised explosive device.

"One soldier from 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment was injured and one soldier from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers sustained serious injuries.

"The soldier from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, despite the best medical efforts at the scene, died a few minutes later.

"All casualties were extracted to Bastion medical facilities where they received medical care. Their injuries are not life threatening. The soldier's next-of-kin have been informed and have requested a 24-hour period of grace before further details are released."

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