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Afghan mine blast soldier named | Afghan mine blast soldier named |
(40 minutes later) | |
A British soldier killed when his patrol vehicle hit a mine in Afghanistan has been named as Trooper Ratu Babakobau, 29, from Fiji. | A British soldier killed when his patrol vehicle hit a mine in Afghanistan has been named as Trooper Ratu Babakobau, 29, from Fiji. |
Three other soldiers were injured in the explosion as they were providing protection for a routine patrol in Helmand province's Nowzad area. | Three other soldiers were injured in the explosion as they were providing protection for a routine patrol in Helmand province's Nowzad area. |
The four soldiers were all members of the Household Cavalry Regiment, the same regiment as Prince Harry. | The four soldiers were all members of the Household Cavalry Regiment, the same regiment as Prince Harry. |
An Afghan translator was also seriously injured in the attack. | |
The Ministry of Defence said Trooper Babakobau only arrived in Afghanistan last month and was on his first mission overseas. | The Ministry of Defence said Trooper Babakobau only arrived in Afghanistan last month and was on his first mission overseas. |
The married father of two young boys joined the Army in 2004 and served in both the Mounted Regiment and the Household Cavalry. | The married father of two young boys joined the Army in 2004 and served in both the Mounted Regiment and the Household Cavalry. |
Lieutenant Colonel Harry Fullerton, commanding officer of the Household Cavalry, said: "He was already a leader of men. Words themselves cannot express our grief at this time and our thoughts lie with his wife, children and his family back in Fiji." | Lieutenant Colonel Harry Fullerton, commanding officer of the Household Cavalry, said: "He was already a leader of men. Words themselves cannot express our grief at this time and our thoughts lie with his wife, children and his family back in Fiji." |
The death brings the number of UK troops killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 95. | The death brings the number of UK troops killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 95. |
The three other soldiers were not seriously injured in the explosion, which happened at 1350 BST on Friday. | |
BBC correspondent Alistair Leithead said the incident had happened on the limits of an area known to be Taleban-controlled. | BBC correspondent Alistair Leithead said the incident had happened on the limits of an area known to be Taleban-controlled. |
He said commanders had yet to establish whether the mine had been left over from the Soviet era or left there by insurgents. | He said commanders had yet to establish whether the mine had been left over from the Soviet era or left there by insurgents. |
An MoD spokesman said the casualties had been taken to the International Security Assistance Force medical facilities at Camp Bastion, where Trooper Babakobau was pronounced dead on arrival. | An MoD spokesman said the casualties had been taken to the International Security Assistance Force medical facilities at Camp Bastion, where Trooper Babakobau was pronounced dead on arrival. |
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