LONDON, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said Friday that a British soldier was killed and six others were injured on their patrol in southern Afghanistan.

    The soldier, also a dog handler, was killed after being attacked during a routine patrol Thursday in the southern province of Helmand, said the MoD.

    Six other soldiers were also injured by small arms fire, said the ministry.

    The soldier's death brings the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan since November 2001 to 112. And it is the second death of the British soldiers this week.

    Currently, Britain has over 7,800 soldiers deployed in Afghanistan. Britain has announced that it would send some 230 troops to Afghanistan by spring 2009.