An investigation is under way into whether two British servicemen killed in southern Afghanistan died as a result of friendly fire.
The British Ministry of Defence said an inquiry was looking into the whether the two men, who died in an explosion in north-east of Gereshk in central Helmand on Wednesday, were caught up in a so-called 'blue-on-blue' incident.
'We have confirmed that an investigation is under way into a suspected friendly fire incident,' a MoD spokesman said.
The men have been named as 26-year-old Captain Tom Sawyer of the Royal Artillery and 28-year-old Corporal Danny Winter of the Royal Marines.
The two men died while on a joint operation with Danish forces and the Afghan National Army to clear a known Taliban stronghold.
Two other members of their patrol were also injured.
It is understood the suspected friendly fire incident did not involve jets or other international forces.
In a statement tonight, the MoD said that it was normal practice for the Military Police to investigate when fatalities were involved.
'Prior to the incident, Nato forces operating under cover of darkness and in an area made up of a complex web of buildings, walls, irrigation ditches and farmland carried out a heavy bombardment of an enemy position using a variety of weapons,' the statement said.
'Such is the nature of such operations our forces were working in a challenging environment under constant threat from enemy fire.'
