Six British soldiers feared dead in Afghanistan

The group – which included five soldiers from the 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment and one from the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment – was on a mounted patrol when their Warrior armoured fighting vehicle was struck.

If the servicemen are confirmed dead, it would take the total number of British forces personnel or MoD civilians who have died while serving in Afghanistan to 404 since the start of operations in October 2001.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the news that six British soldiers were missing, presumed dead, following an explosion in Afghanistan meant it was a “desperately sad day for our country”.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the incident “brings home to us the dangers that are faced on a daily basis by the men and women of our armed forces deployed in Afghanistan”.

It would become the biggest single loss of life in one incident since the Nimrod crash which killed 14 service personnel in 2006 and involve the largest number of fatal casualties in a land attack.

Read more: Why are British troops fighting in Afghanistan?

Need for political settlement

David Cameron urged the Taliban to lay down their weapons and engage in political talks during a Prime Minister’s Questions session overshadowed by the news from Afghanistan.

In sombre exchanges with Labour leader Ed Miliband, who expressed his “profound sadness at the terrible news”, Mr Cameron stressed the need for a political settlement in Afghanistan.

“We need to give that every possible support we can and send a very clear message to the Taliban that, whether it is our troops who are there or whether it is Afghan troops who are there, they will not win on the battlefield – they never win on the battlefield – and now it is time for a political settlement to give this country a chance of peaceful progress.”

Former soldier Kris Hopkins, Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley in West Yorkshire, said he is “absolutely devastated” by the news.

“As a former member of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, I was invited to have lunch with officers of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment only two weeks ago in advance of their departure to Helmand.

“The loss of five men, together with a colleague from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, is a devastating blow to everyone out there.

“My sympathies go out to them all and, most importantly, the families of those brave soldiers who have lost their lives serving our country.

“Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

The soldiers’ next of kin have been informed, following yesterday’s blast.