British soldier, Afghan interpreter killed in Afghanistan

An explosion near Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan has killed a British soldier and a civilian Afghan interpreter Thursday.

The soldier, a gunner in the 51 Squadron RAF Regiment, was on patrol around the airfield at the time of the blast shortly after midnight local time, the ministry said in a statement. Two other soldiers were lightly wounded.

The casualties were evacuated by helicopter to a medical facility at the airport, where the soldier was pronounced dead. The interpreter later died of his wounds. The defense ministry declined to say what caused the blast.

The names of the soldier and interpreter have not been released, although the ministry said the soldier's next of kin had been notified.