Emotional tributes have been paid to a Huddersfield man ‘with a heart of gold’ who was killed in a suicide-bomb attack in Afghanistan.
Michael Hampshire from Golcar died on Sunday when a Taliban suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed car near the capital’s international airport.
A British security contractor, he was travelling in a European Union police (EUPOL) vehicle convoy when the bomb was detonated a few hundred metres from the airport terminal.
The devastating news has shocked his family and friends in Huddersfield who are struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
Mr Hampshire, known to all his family and friends as Mic, had lived in Golcar all his life and had been engaged to Claire Taylor since November last year.
His cousin James Etchell posted on Facebook: “Yesterday [Sunday] morning me and my family received some devastating news, news that no one wants to receive but my cousin Mic Hampshire lost his life out in Afghanistan.
“This has well and truly hit us hard and I’m still coming to terms with the fact that I will never see you again.
“You will be missed massively by family, friends and your beautiful fiancée I’m sure.
“But it’s now time for you to lay in peace and us to be brave and strong.”
Mic’s father, Martin, told the Examiner he had been asked by the police not to speak at this time.
Friend Nick Baker posted on Facebook: “An absolute legend of a man with a heart of gold who inspired so many. R.I.P Mic. You will be missed!”
Chris Nicholson posted: RIP Mic, nothing but happy memories from high school you was a right laugh and a true lad x
Bryony Kaba posted: “You were a pleasure to have known and will be missed by everyone. My thoughts are with your family at such a sad time.”
Mr Hampshire was one of three people who were killed in the blast which also injured 18 others.
The other two fatalities have been confirmed as Afghan women.
A spokeswoman for EUPOL, Sari Haukka-Konu, said that one ‘non-mission member’ who was travelling in a EUPOL vehicle had been killed.
EUPOL Head of Mission Pia Stjernvall said: “I’m deeply saddened by the incident at this occasion of which an employee of the Security provider for EUPOL Afghanistan, a dedicated and highly professional security officer, lost his life while protecting the members of EUPOL mission.
“My thoughts are with the family and friends of our colleague and all the others who were involved with this tragic and cowardly attack against people who have come to this country simply to help the people of Afghanistan. At the same time my thoughts are with the Afghans who were victims of this attack.”
A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack, which appears to have targeted vehicles belonging to a European Union police training mission.
