British man killed by Taliban in Kabul named as Michael Hampshire

Michael Hampshire was a security contractor working for the EU

Afghans inspect the site of a suicide attack near Kabul's international airport in Afghanistan, Sunday, May 17, 2015. A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed car near Kabul's international airport on Sunday, wounding at least 16 civilians in an at (AP Photo/Allauddin Khan)

A British man who was killed in a terrorist attack in the Afghan capital of Kabul has been named as Michael Hampshire.

Mr Hampshire and three other people died on Sunday when a Taliban suicide bomber detonated a car filled with explosives near Kabul International Airport. At least 18 other people were wounded in the attack.

A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack near the office of the Afghan Civil Aviation Authority, a few hundred metres from the airport terminal.

In a statement released by the Foreign Office, his family paid tribute to Mr Hampshire, who was a security contractor from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Mr Hampshire was working for the close protection team of the EU Police Mission in Afghanistan when he was killed.

"Michael was a loving fiancé, son, grandson, brother, uncle, cousin and a friend to everyone who knew him,” they said of Mr Hampshire, who has left behind fiancée, Claire Taylor.

"No words can explain what we are going through at this time and we will miss Michael dearly.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank people for the messages we have received but would now like, as a family, to grieve for Michael in peace."

Following Mr Hampshire's tragic death, his friends have used his Facebook page to remember him.

Nick Baker wrote: "An absolute legend of a man with a heart of gold who inspired so many. R.I.P Mic. You will be missed!"

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also paid tribute to Mr Hampshire, and said in a statement: "My deepest sympathy goes to the family, friends and loved ones of our colleague and of all other innocent victims

"The Afghan Government needs to ensure that those responsible for the attack are brought to justice," she said.

The incident appears to have targeted vehicles of the European Union police training mission, and comes days after an unnamed joint British and Afghan national was killed in an attack by the Taliban on a guest house in Kabul. Some 14 people died as a result of the attack.

Additional reporting by PA