A Northern Ireland-born former regular soldier was killed in Afghanistan while working for a private security firm, it was confirmed today.
The man from Ballykelly, Co Derry, died in Herat in the west of the war-torn country.
It is understood he was caught in an ambush, but it was not known whether it was a bomb or gun attack.
While in Afghanistan on a civilian basis he was still a serving member of the Territorial Army in Northern Ireland and he held the rank of Staff Sergeant.
The Foreign Office gave only the briefest of details. “We can confirm a British national has been killed in an incident in Herat,” said a spokesman.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the dead man was a former soldier in the British army.
It is understood he was employed by London-based ArmorGroup International which classifies itself as a private military security firm founded in 1981 and which was acquired by G4S last year.
It provides protective security services, risk management consultancy, security training and mine action services.
It has offices in security trouble spots such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Columbia, as well Bahrain and Sudan.
PA