Afghanistan: Blast kills six Britons in ‘safest’ Warrior

THE armoured vehicle destroyed by a blast which killed six British soldiers in Afghanistan was of an improved type only recently deployed to operations in the violent south of the country, defence experts have said.

The servicemen killed in the single worst enemy attack on UK troops of the Afghan campaign were on patrol when their Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle was caught in an explosion in Helmand.

Their deaths take the number of British forces killed on operation to more than 400 since the US-led invasion in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

They represent the biggest single loss of British military personnel in the country since an RAF Nimrod from RAF Kinloss crashed, killing 14 people, in 2006.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the news marked a “desperately sad day for our country”.

The servicemen, five from the 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment and one from the 1st Battalion the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, were struck around 40km north of Lashkar Gah while on patrol on Tuesday.

Next of kin have been informed.

Chris Foss of defence analysts IHS Jane’s said that while the vehicle offered the best available protection to troops it was impossible to shield against all potential threats.

“The British Army have deployed a limited number of BAE Systems Warrior IFV to Afghanistan,” he said.

“Prior to deployment these were upgraded to the latest Theatre Entry Standard, which covers a number of enhancements including survivability and mobility.

“While the Warrior TES(H) is the best protected member of the Warrior family of vehicles there are clear limits on the amount of additional armour that can be added without effecting its mobility and where it can be deployed.”

Mr Cameron said: “This is a desperately sad day for our country and desperately sad of course for the families concerned. It is a reminder of the huge price that we are paying for the work we are doing in Afghanistan and the sacrifice that our troops have made and continue to make.”

Labour leader Ed Miliband echoed his remarks, adding: “This is a dark day. We salute all of our fallen and those who continue to serve in the face of the gravest danger.”

Moving scenes were played out at Battlesbury Barracks in Warminster, Wiltshire, the home of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, where the dark green battalion flag emblazoned with a gold lion and white rose flew at half-mast.

Two uniformed soldiers relit a candle next to the barracks’ gates, which was put in place when about 90 soldiers from the Corunna Company were deployed less than a month ago.

Beneath it, text read: “This flame serves to remind us of the commitment that the soldiers of this battalion are currently making on operations. It will be extinguished when the last soldier of the battalion returns safely to this base.”

A woman and a young boy quietly laid a bunch of pale yellow roses under the sign marking the barracks’ entrance. Before turning to leave, the woman gently placed her hand on the sign and lowered her head.

A card tucked inside the floral tribute read: “Dear 3 Yorks. Tragic news. Warminster is proud and will always consider you ‘our boys’. J x”.

Five books of remembrance to the individual soldiers will be opened once their details are confirmed.