UK troops killed by 'friendly fire'

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The apparent "friendly fire" incident took place as the troops patrolled an area north-west of Kajaki, Helmand Province, on Thursday evening.

After coming under attack the unit, from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, called in close air support from two US F15s.

At about 6.30pm local time one of the aircraft launched a bomb, which apparently exploded hitting five British troops, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

Three soldiers were declared dead at the scene and two others were evacuated to Camp Bastion with serious injuries.

Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Mayo, spokesman for British troops in Helmand Province, said an investigation into the deaths had been launched.

This is believed to be the second friendly fire incident involving British troops in Afghanistan.

The MoD is still investigating reports that 21-year-old Royal Marine Jonathan Wigley was the victim of allied fire when he was killed in Helmand in December.

The US Embassy in London said in a statement: "The United States expresses its deep condolences to the families and loved ones of the soldiers who died, and we wish those who were injured a speedy recovery."

The deaths take the number of British military fatalities in Afghanistan since the start of operations in November 2001 to 73.