UK soldier dies in Iraq gun tragedy

A British soldier has died in a shooting incident in Iraq, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

A soldier has died of a gunshot wound at the Contingency Operating Base in Basra A soldier has died of a gunshot wound at the Contingency Operating Base in Basra

The soldier, from the 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, died of a gunshot wound in the early hours of Thursday at the Contingency Operating Base in Basra.

It is understood that nobody else was involved in the shooting.

An MoD spokesman said: "It is with deep regret that the MoD must confirm that a soldier serving with 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment died this morning in a shooting incident in the Contingency Operating Base, Basra.

"The circumstances surrounding the incident are still being investigated. Next of kin have been informed."

In December last year two British servicemen died at the same contingency operating base in Basra from wounds thought to be self-inflicted.

Lance Corporal David Wilson, 27, serving with 9 Regiment Army Air Corps, from West Yorkshire, died from a gunshot on December 4.

Corporal Lee Churcher, 32, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, died after suffering a gunshot wound on December 11.

A total of 178 British service personnel have lost their lives in Iraq since the US-led invasion in March 2003.

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