The mayor of a Utah city and father of seven has been killed in an attack in Afghanistan while he was serving with the state's National Guard.
North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor died on Saturday in an apparent "insider attack" in Kabul, the Salt Lake Tribune and other media reported.
Another US service member is being treated for wounds sustained in the attack, American military officials said.
Brent Taylor was a father of seven. Source: Facebook
The Utah National Guard has identified the service member killed as a member of the Guard. The Guard member's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
But Utah Lieutenant Governor Spencer J. Cox wrote on his Facebook page that Taylor, 39, had been killed.
"Devastating news. North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor was killed today while serving in Afghanistan," Cox said.
"I hate this. I'm struggling for words. I love Mayor Taylor, his amazing wife Jennie and his seven sweet kids. Utah weeps for them today. This war has once again cost us the best blood of a generation. We must rally around his family."
Taylor was deployed to Afghanistan in January with the Utah National Guard for what was expected to be a 12-month tour of duty. Taylor, an officer in the National Guard, previously served two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan.
Afghan National Army soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint in Kabul ahead of parliamentary elections. Source: AAP
At the time of his deployment in January, Taylor told local media that, as an intelligence officer, he will be assigned to serve on an advisory team training the staff of an Afghan commando battalion.
"Right now there is a need for my experience and skills to serve in our nation's long-lasting war in Afghanistan," he said.
"President Trump has ordered an increase in troops, and part of the new strategy focuses on expanding the capabilities of the Afghan commando units."
Taylor became mayor of North Ogden, a city of about 17,000 people north of Salt Lake City, in 2013.
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