IT’S EMERGED A resident of Limavady in Co Derry was one of the 21 people killed in a suicide bomb blast and gun attack at a restaurant in central Kabul.
Simon Chase, a former British soldier originally from England, was one of two British nationals killed in the attack. 13 foreigners lost their lives in the assault by Taliban militants on the Lebanese ‘Taverna du Liban’.
Also among the dead were two Americans, two Canadians, a senior International Monetary Fund (IMF) official from Lebanon, and the restaurant’s Lebanese owner, who reportedly died after he tried to fire back at the attackers.
A Danish member of the European police mission in Afghanistan and a Russian UN political officer also died in the Friday evening massacre, which was the deadliest attack on foreign civilians since the Taliban were ousted in 2001.
Chase had lived with his partner and family in the Limavady area for a number of years. The BBC reports that he had been serving with the EU police mission Eupol.
DUP councillor for Limavady Alan Robinson said the community was “shocked and devastated” following news of his death.
“Whilst I did not know Simon in a personal capacity I am however personally very sad to learn of his passing in such tragic circumstances in far away lands,” Robinson said.
“As the Roe Valley mourns the passing of Simon, I am confident that the Limavady public will rally around to give support to Norma and her family as they try to come to terms with their sudden bereavement.
“I’m sure Simon’s family and friends will take some comfort from the fact that he lived his life to the full, lived the life that he loved to live whilst doing the job that he was so professional at.”
Yesterday’s assault was claimed by Taliban militants fighting against the Afghan government and NATO forces. A Taliban spokesman said the attack was to avenge a US airstrike in Parwan province on Tuesday.
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