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Southampton MEP candidate Del Singh among Kabul dead | Southampton MEP candidate Del Singh among Kabul dead |
(35 minutes later) | |
Labour's MEP candidate for the South East has been confirmed as among 21 people killed in a suicide bomb and gun attack in the Afghan capital Kabul. | |
Dhamender Singh Phangurha, 39, known as Del Singh, was killed in the attack at a restaurant in the city. | |
Born and raised in Southampton, he was a volunteer at two charities for the homeless and mentored job seekers. | |
Labour Party leader Ed Miliband and other party figures have paid tribute to him. | Labour Party leader Ed Miliband and other party figures have paid tribute to him. |
'Mr Kipling's cakes' | |
Mr Miliband said: "My thoughts - and the thoughts of the whole Labour Party - are with the family and friends of Del Singh." | Mr Miliband said: "My thoughts - and the thoughts of the whole Labour Party - are with the family and friends of Del Singh." |
Local politicians have also paid tribute. | |
Southampton Itchen Labour MP John Denham said: "Del was an inspirational man and simply one of the nicest people you could meet. | |
"Everything he did - delivering development aid in some of the world's most dangerous places, running a charity marathon in the heat of Gaza, or representing the Labour Party - was driven by a passion to make a real difference to people's lives." | |
Fellow Labour MEP candidate Anneliese Dodds said: "Del was a very generous, warm-hearted man who was passionate about ending injustice and unfairness. | |
"He always spoke about how he was proud to have started his working life alongside his mother on the shop floor of Mr Kipling's cakes in Eastleigh. | |
"Del then worked extremely hard to obtain university qualifications and go on to a career in international development." | |
Aldershot Labour councillor Keith Dibble tweeted: "Devastated to hear the terrible news of the tragic death of Del Singh. A good friend and colleague. Our thoughts are with his family." | Aldershot Labour councillor Keith Dibble tweeted: "Devastated to hear the terrible news of the tragic death of Del Singh. A good friend and colleague. Our thoughts are with his family." |
He added: "Del Singh [went] out campaigning with us in Aldershot last year in the county elections. Del we will miss you." | |
'Brother and friend' | |
Mr Singh started out working in two food production factories in Eastleigh alongside his mother and then studied in Southampton. | |
He became an international development specialist managing EU and UN projects in developing countries, including Afghanistan, Libya and Sierra Leone. | He became an international development specialist managing EU and UN projects in developing countries, including Afghanistan, Libya and Sierra Leone. |
As a leader of Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East (LFPME), he was an advocate of Palestinian human rights. | As a leader of Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East (LFPME), he was an advocate of Palestinian human rights. |
LFPME tweeted: "Last night we lost a son, a brother, a friend in the brutal attack in Kabul. Still can't believe you're gone." | LFPME tweeted: "Last night we lost a son, a brother, a friend in the brutal attack in Kabul. Still can't believe you're gone." |
MP for Southampton Test Alan Whitehead earlier described Mr Singh as "an extraordinary asset to Labour in Southampton", which included supporting "community campaigns across the city". | MP for Southampton Test Alan Whitehead earlier described Mr Singh as "an extraordinary asset to Labour in Southampton", which included supporting "community campaigns across the city". |
Mr Miliband said: "He dedicated his life to working with people across the world who needed his support." | Mr Miliband said: "He dedicated his life to working with people across the world who needed his support." |