London , England ( CNN ) -- The British Ministry of Defence Wednesday named the five troops who were killed in Afghanistan in a shooting blamed on a `` rogue '' Afghan policeman . They were Warrant Officer 1st Class Darren Chant , Sgt . Matthew Telford , and Guardsman James Major , all of the 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards , and Royal Military Policemen Acting Cpl . Steven Boote and Cpl . Nicholas Webster-Smith , the ministry said Wednesday . The men were killed in an attack in Afghanistan 's southern Helmand province , the British Ministry of Defence said earlier in the day . The attack happened Tuesday afternoon in the Nad-e'Ali District of Helmand , the ministry said . All the soldiers died from gunshot wounds sustained in the attack . Initial reports show that it was an Afghan national policeman who initiated the fire on the soldiers , a ministry spokesman told CNN . `` I do n't think that this is the example of a broader picture , but this could be an example of corruption ... or somebody might have been paid , somebody might have had connections , '' former Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah told Sky News about the reports . `` These are the things you can not take care of ( individually ) . This has to be taken care of by those who are in charge of the police force , '' he added . Lt. Col. David Wakefield , a spokesman for Task Force Helmand , expressed his `` deepest sadness '' at the deaths . `` Five British soldiers , five of our own , shot down in the course of their duty . They will not be forgotten , '' Wakefield said . British Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth also expressed his sadness and condolences , as did British Prime Minister Gordon Brown . `` The death of five brave soldiers in a single incident is a terrible loss , '' Brown said in a statement . `` My thoughts , condolences and sympathies go to their families , loved ones and colleagues . I know that the whole country too will mourn their loss . ''
Five British soldiers killed in Helmand province , all died from gunshot wounds . Soldiers came under fire Tuesday in the Nad-e'Ali District of Helmand . British Ministry of Defense : Initial reports show fire initiated by Afghan national policeman . Score: 6