British soldier killed in Afghanistan

Updated 18.54 Fri Oct 05 2007

Keywords: Afghanistan, killed, soldier, British

A soldier from the British Army has been killed and two others injured in a blast in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The soldiers, from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, were on their way back to their base at Kandahar Airfield in the south when the blast hit their vehicle.

The soldier, from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, was killed in an explosion in the south of the country on Thursday

The Gurkhas had been taking part in an operation in neighbouring Helmand Province, the first major push since the unit's arrival in the country as part of the army's autumn troop rotation.

The blast happened around 19 miles west of the base in Kandahar Province.

All three were airlifted to Camp Bastion, Britain's main base in Afghanistan, where one was pronounced dead. The other two are receiving treatment.

Next of kin have been informed and have requested a 24-hour period of grace before further details are released, the MoD said.