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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Soldier dies in Afghan mine blast | Soldier dies in Afghan mine blast |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A British soldier has been killed by a mine explosion in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. | A British soldier has been killed by a mine explosion in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. |
| The soldier, of B Company 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, stepped on the mine while on patrol in Lashkar Gar at 1100 local time on Saturday. | The soldier, of B Company 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, stepped on the mine while on patrol in Lashkar Gar at 1100 local time on Saturday. |
| Next of kin have been informed. Since 2001, 110 British personnel have died in Afghanistan - 13 since 8 June. | Next of kin have been informed. Since 2001, 110 British personnel have died in Afghanistan - 13 since 8 June. |
| A soldier who died in Afghanistan on Friday in a vehicle accident has been named as Warrant Officer Dan Shirley. | A soldier who died in Afghanistan on Friday in a vehicle accident has been named as Warrant Officer Dan Shirley. |
| WO Shirley, from 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, died when a patrol vehicle overturned. | WO Shirley, from 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, died when a patrol vehicle overturned. |
| His commanding officer, Lt Col RJ McNeil, said WO Shirley's death had come as a "huge shock" to the regiment. | His commanding officer, Lt Col RJ McNeil, said WO Shirley's death had come as a "huge shock" to the regiment. |
| "He was a perfect role model for young soldiers. He was fit, irrepressibly enthusiastic and superbly professional," he said. | "He was a perfect role model for young soldiers. He was fit, irrepressibly enthusiastic and superbly professional," he said. |
| An MoD spokesman said the soldier killed by a mine on Saturday had been part of a vehicle checkpoint patrol operating in the Lashkar Gar area. | An MoD spokesman said the soldier killed by a mine on Saturday had been part of a vehicle checkpoint patrol operating in the Lashkar Gar area. |
| They were on patrol when "they received a report of an rocket-propelled grenade attack on a civilian aircraft at Bost airfield in Lashkar Gar", the spokesman said. | They were on patrol when "they received a report of an rocket-propelled grenade attack on a civilian aircraft at Bost airfield in Lashkar Gar", the spokesman said. |
| The latest death follows that of WO Dan Shirley (above) Afghanistan accident victim named | |
| "When investigating this they dismounted their vehicles and what is believed to have been a legacy anti-personnel mine detonated, killing the soldier instantly." | "When investigating this they dismounted their vehicles and what is believed to have been a legacy anti-personnel mine detonated, killing the soldier instantly." |
| Following the two deaths, Defence Secretary Des Browne told Sky News that British forces in Afghanistan were "helping to secure our lifestyle and our way of life against the attacks of the Taleban and al-Qaeda". | Following the two deaths, Defence Secretary Des Browne told Sky News that British forces in Afghanistan were "helping to secure our lifestyle and our way of life against the attacks of the Taleban and al-Qaeda". |
| "They are doing what needs to be done. Neither of these two incidents over the last few days involved direct contact with the enemy," he said. | "They are doing what needs to be done. Neither of these two incidents over the last few days involved direct contact with the enemy," he said. |
| "It may well turn out for example that this was a legacy mine from the Soviet time but it doesn't alter the fact it's a dangerous, dangerous environment for them to work in." | "It may well turn out for example that this was a legacy mine from the Soviet time but it doesn't alter the fact it's a dangerous, dangerous environment for them to work in." |
| Of the British troops killed in Afghanistan, 13 have died since 8 June including the first woman to lose her life, Cpl Sarah Bryant, 26. | Of the British troops killed in Afghanistan, 13 have died since 8 June including the first woman to lose her life, Cpl Sarah Bryant, 26. |