Afghanistan mine blast claims UK soldier's life
Wednesday, 25 Jun 2008 12:59
UK soldier killed in Afghanistan by explosion during routine check for enemy mines
A UK soldier has been killed in Afghanistan after an explosion during a routine check for enemy mines.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on Wednesday the death of the soldier from the Fourth Battalion the Parachute Regiment.
The incident took place at 15:00 local time (11:30 BST) in Helmand's upper Sagnin valley, where yesterday a soldier from the Second Battalion Parachute Regiment died in a firefight with the Taliban.
On the latest death to hit the British army – the 108th since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan seven years ago – the MoD said: "[The soldier] was dismounted from his vehicle checking for mines in the upper Sangin valley when he was killed by a suspected IED explosion. No one else was injured in the incident."
The soldier's next of kin have been informed and have requested a 24-hour period of grace before further details are released, the MoD added.