Press Association

Soldier shot dead in Afghanistan

A British soldier from the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment has been killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said.

The soldier was serving as a part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (North), and was a member of an International Security Assistance Force foot patrol to disrupt insurgent activity when he received a fatal gunshot wound.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Mackenzie, said: "It is my very sad duty to inform you that a soldier serving with the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment was fatally wounded in an insurgent attack while on a foot patrol to disrupt insurgent activity in the Khar Nikah area of Nahr-e Saraj district in Helmand Province.

"Our deepest condolences are with his family and friends at this tragic time."

The death brings to 397 the total number of British forces personnel or MoD civilians to have died while serving in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001.