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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK soldier killed in Afghanistan | UK soldier killed in Afghanistan |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A British soldier was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. | A British soldier was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. |
| The MoD said the serviceman, who was from the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, died in Helmand province. | The MoD said the serviceman, who was from the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, died in Helmand province. |
| The soldier's death brings the number of UK troops killed on operations in the country since 2001 to 114. | The soldier's death brings the number of UK troops killed on operations in the country since 2001 to 114. |
| The soldier's next of kin have been informed. His death follows the killing on Monday in Afghanistan of 35-year-old Sergeant Jonathan Mathews. | The soldier's next of kin have been informed. His death follows the killing on Monday in Afghanistan of 35-year-old Sergeant Jonathan Mathews. |
| The soldier who died on Tuesday was on a routine patrol that clashed with Taleban fighters early that morning. | The soldier who died on Tuesday was on a routine patrol that clashed with Taleban fighters early that morning. |
| Intense fighting | |
| During the fighting he was seriously injured in an explosion. He was flown out for medical treatment but died during the journey. | During the fighting he was seriously injured in an explosion. He was flown out for medical treatment but died during the journey. |
| Army spokesman Lt Col David Reynolds said: "Everyone in Task Force Helmand is affected by the death of a soldier, and the thoughts and sympathies of us all are with the family at this most difficult time." | Army spokesman Lt Col David Reynolds said: "Everyone in Task Force Helmand is affected by the death of a soldier, and the thoughts and sympathies of us all are with the family at this most difficult time." |
| According to the BBC's Alastair Leithead British forces were ambushed by Taleban insurgents while on patrol out of their base south of Sangin, in the Helmand river valley. | |
| They returned fire and during the battle the soldier was caught in an explosion - most probably a rocket propelled grenade fired by insurgents. | |
| The BBC's correspondent said the fighting in Helmand province is particularly intense at the moment and there are daily clashes with insurgents, with some bases regularly coming under attack. | |
| Of the 114 British troops who have died in Afghanistan since 2001, most of them were killed in the last two years in Helmand province. |