Three British soldiers from The Parachute Regiment were killed in Afghanistan on Thursday, according to a statement released by British Ministry of Defense on Friday.

The soldiers were killed Thursday afternoon while undertaking a routine security patrol alongside Afghan National Security Forces to the north of Lashkar Gah when the Jackal vehicle they were traveling in was hit by an explosion, followed by a small arms fire attack.

It is believed three soldiers were killed in the initial blast. A fourth member of the patrol remains in a critical condition.

The Ministry of Defense said they had requested a period of grace before names and any further details were released.

The number of British troops who have died in Afghanistan since operations began in October 2001 now stands at 195. Furthermore, a record 22 were killed last month.

(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2009)