Third British soldier is killed in Afghanistan in three days

A British soldier has been killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said today.

The soldier, from the 1st Battalion The Rifles, was killed by an improvised explosive device yesterday while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

The death is the third to be announced in three days. A Royal Marine, from 42 Commando, was shot dead yesterday morning on patrol in the same area. On Friday Corporal Michael Pike, 26, from Huntly, Scotland, died when his patrol was attacked with guns and rocket grenades in Lashkar Gah, Helmand.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand Lt-Col Tim Purbrick said: "The soldier was part of a foot patrol, supporting an Afghan National Security Forces operation to clear one of the last remaining insurgent safe havens in Central Helmand, when he was fatally wounded by an improvised explosive device.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."