Afghanistan: Two Brits killed by roadside bomb

Two British soldiers have been killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan.

A third soldier and a civilian interpreter were also injured in the incident, which happened just after 9.15am yesterday when a patrol north of Lashkar Gah was targeted.

The dead soldiers, both men, were from the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), part of 12 Mechanised Brigade. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. The third soldier and the interpreter were evacuated by helicopter to Camp Bastion for treatment.

The deaths brought the number of fatalities suffered by 12 Mechanised Brigade to 24 — more than twice that of 3 Commando Brigade, which left Helmand province in May after a six-month tour. A total of 31 soldiers have now been killed in Afghanistan so far his year, compared with 41 in Iraq.Many of the deaths have been caused by roadside bombs. Link

db: As yet there is nothing to suggest that the troops were on a suicide mission via Land Rover 'Snatch' vehicle.

'More than 20 service personnel have died in Snatch Land Rovers, yet the MoD has no plans to take them out of service and replace them.'

Update: The troops were in a WIMIK (Weapons Mounted Installation Kit) jeep - an open topped Land Rover 110 - which offers little protection, from even bullets.