Del Singh: Tributes to man killed in Kabul blast

Del Singh had spoken to his family the day before the blast. Picture: PA

Del Singh, 39, was one of two Britons who were killed in the devastating attack at a restaurant in Kabul on Friday.

The attack, which the Taleban quickly claimed responsibility for, left 21 people dead, including senior UN officials, Afghan dignitaries and restaurant staff.

Simon Chase, a former British soldier from Limavady, Co Londonderry, was also killed.

Mr Singh, from Southampton, was a Labour candidate for the European parliament and was due to stand for the South East in May’s European elections.

He was working as an international adviser supporting the Afghan budget department in Kabul at the time of the blast.

His family said he was “funny, big-hearted and humble”. His partner, Komal Adris, 35, said he had advised Labour leader Ed Miliband on Israeli and Palestinian policy and travelled regularly to Afghanistan. “He loved the country. He’s been going there on and off for around six years,” she said. “He kept going back to all these conflict areas because he loved his work and wanted to see a more peaceful world.”

Tributes poured in for Mr Singh, with Mr Miliband saying that through his development work in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Sudan and Sierra Leone, he had “dedicated his life to working with people across the world who needed his support”.

Anneliese Dodds, a fellow candidate for the South East, said she had exchanged e-mails with him just a few days ago. She said: “Even though we were all competing with one another, everyone got on with him and he enlivened all the hustings.”

Mr Chase, a former British soldier, worked as a close protection officer for the EU mission in Afghanistan and died trying to protect a female Danish police officer, who was also killed.

Originally from Merseyside, he had been living in Limavady with his fiancée Norma McDowell. It is understood the couple lived together with two children. Mayor of Limavady Gerry Mullan offered his condolences to Mr Chase’s family, saying he was “well-known and well-respected” in the community.

The blast occurred at the Taverna du Liban restaurant, which is popular with Westerners. The suicide attacker detonated his explosives outside the gate of the heavily fortified restaurant, the deputy interior minister  Mohammad Ayoub Salangi said.

Two gunmen entered the restaurant and started shooting at people inside. It is believed they were shot dead by security forces when they arrived at the scene.