Soldier 'killed in rifle-cleaning accident'

A British soldier from the North may have been shot dead accidentally as he and a colleague cleaned their rifles, it is understood.

Ranger David Dalzell, 20, of 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, died on Friday in an “operational accident” in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand.

Britain's Ministry of Defence (MOD) refused to be drawn on the circumstances surrounding Ranger Dalzell’s death and a spokeswoman said details of the accident would be heard during an inquest.

But it is believed the tragedy may have happened as he and a comrade cleaned their rifles inside their base.

Ranger Dalzell, who came from Bangor in Co Down, was described as a “fearless” soldier by colleagues.

A total of 352 UK military personnel have now died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001, including 42 who have died as a result of accidents, illness, non-combat injuries or who have not yet officially been assigned a cause of death.