A SOLDIER from the Royal Anglian Regiment has been killed today when his patrol came under attack from Taliban fighters.The Ministry of Defence has announced that the soldier died at the scene.

A SOLDIER from the Royal Anglian Regiment has been killed today when his patrol came under attack from Taliban fighters.

The Ministry of Defence has announced that the soldier died at the scene.

A statement from the MoD said: “It is with much sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of a soldier from the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment in Afghanistan today, Friday 10 August 2007.

“The soldier was killed during a fighting patrol to disrupt enemy activity and reassure the local population in the area of Jusyalay, north east of Sangin, in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan.

“Shortly before 0600 hours local time the patrol, which was en-route to check on a local irrigation project, came under fire from Taliban fighters.

“It was during this engagement that two soldiers were injured. An emergency response helicopter was requested, but sadly one of the soldiers was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Both were flown to the ISAF medical facility at Camp Bastion. The injuries sustained by the second soldier are not life threatening.”

The MoD said the soldier's next of kin had been informed.

Soldiers from The Royal Anglian Regiment are recruited from Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. The unit is currently based in Surrey.