6 British soldiers presumed dead in Helmand blast

KABUL, the alliance said on Wednesday.

In line with its policy, the NATO insurgents.

But the Ministry of Defence in London said the blast hit British soldiers who had been on patrol, in an armoured vehicle in Helmand province. The victims’ families had been informed, the Ministry added.

If confirmed, the latest fatalities would take the British forces’ death toll in Afghanistan to more than 400 since 2001, when the UK mission began after the fall of the Taliban regime.

British spokesman Lt. Col Gordon Mackenzie said: “I have the tragic duty to report that six soldiers are missing, believed killed, during a security patrol.”

The attack would not deter British forces from carrying out their role as part of ISAF in Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said.

He added: “I utterly condemn those responsible for this incident who will ultimately fail to derail a mission that is protecting our national security at home and making real progress in Helmand.”

pr/mud

Visits: 1