Three Folkestone soldiers killed in Helmand Province

6.10.38pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 13th Jul 2010

Three soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles have been killed in Afghanistan after a "renegade" Afghan soldier turned and opened fire on them. Other soldiers are reported to be injured. The 1st Battalion have been based in Shorncliffe barracks on the Folkestone / Sandgate border since 2000.

The men were on duty in Nahr-e Saraj in Helmand province when the attack happened on Tuesday morning. One of the dead is believed to be a Nepalese Gurkha and the other two were described as UK nationals.

Next of kin are being informed and a helpline has been set up for concerned relatives in the UK which is 08457 800900.

Local Liberal Democrat leader, Lynne Beaumont, said:

"This is incredibly sad news. Our hearts are with the family, friends and colleagues of those who have died and been injured today.

"Earlier this year, Folkestone came together to mourn for Rifleman Peter Aldridge, another brave British soldier killed in Afghanistan whose home and family were in Folkestone. Today, we mourn again."