MEP candidate killed in Kabul blast

18 January 2014 Last updated at 12:32 GMT

Southampton MEP candidate Del Singh among Kabul dead

Del Singh was standing as a candidate for the European Parliament

Labour's MEP candidate for the South East has been confirmed as among the 21 people killed in a suicide bomb and gun attack in the Afghan capital Kabul.

Dhamender Singh Phangurha, known as Del Singh, was killed in the attack at a restaurant in the city.

Born and raised in Southampton, Mr Singh and volunteered as a mentor for local unemployed people.

Labour Party leader Ed Miliband and other party figures have paid tribute to him.

'Brother and friend'

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 to Mr Singh.

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."

Del Singh had campaigned for Labour at every election since 1992

Labour leader of Surrey County Council Robert Evans tweeted: "Del Singh was a thoroughly decent man; proud to have supported him as a candidate for European Parliament in the SE."

Mr Singh was standing as a candidate for the European Parliament in the South East.

He started out working in two food production factories in Eastleigh alongside his mother and studied in Southampton.

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.

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".

Mr Miliband said: "He dedicated his life to working with people across the world who needed his support."