LONDON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Three British soldiers have been killed by "friendly fire" in Afghanistan, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Friday.

    The soldiers from 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment were "tragically killed in what is believed to be a friendly fire incident" Thursday, the MoD said in a statement.

    Two other soldiers were also injured in the incident, said the ministry.

A Chinook helicopter comes into land to pick up British soldiers after a mission in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, July 30, 2006. Three British soldiers were killed by a bomb dropped by U.S. aircraft supporting them in a battle against Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan, the British military said on Friday. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "All of the soldiers were taking part in a fighting patrol to disrupt Taliban activity and reassure the local population north west of Kajaki, Helmand Province, when the incident occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. local time, (0200 GMT)" the ministry said.

    "Their patrol was attacked by Taliban insurgents and during the intense engagement that ensued, close air support was called in from two U.S. F15 aircraft to repel the enemy. One bomb was dropped and it is believed the explosion killed the three soldiers," said the ministry.

    The events surrounding the incident are subject to an investigation, the ministry added.

    The fatalities brought Britain's death toll in Afghanistan to 73. Britain currently has over 6,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, and their number will increase to around 7,700 over the course of the year.

    British forces are deployed in Afghanistan in support of the UN authorized, NATO-led International Security Assistance Force mission and as part of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom.