Blast kills 3 British soldiers in Afghanistan

Three British soldiers have been killed in a bomb attack on their vehicle in the Afghan province of Helmand, the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) says.

The three were on their routine patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand when the device went off, also killing nine Afghans.

The MoD said they were transferred to a military hospital at the British forces’ base, Camp Bastion, but they died later of their injuries.

“It is with deep sadness that I must confirm that three soldiers from The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, have died after their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province,” Major Richard Morgan, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said.

The British have so far lost 444 soldiers in Afghanistan since they took part in the US-led invasion of the country in 2001.

Six British soldiers have been killed in the Asian country only this year.