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British diplomat found dead in Beirut was murdered, police believe British diplomat found dead in Beirut was murdered, police believe
(about 1 hour later)
A British diplomat who worked at the UK embassy in Beirut has been found dead.A British diplomat who worked at the UK embassy in Beirut has been found dead.
The body of Rebecca Dykes was reportedly found on the side of a motorway on Saturday. The circumstances surrounding her death were unclear but local police officials suggested that she had been murdered. The body of Rebecca Dykes was reportedly found on the side of a motorway in the early hours of Saturday morning . The circumstances surrounding her death were unclear but local police officials suggested she had been murdered.
A family spokesman said: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. We are doing all we can to understand what happened. Dykes is believed to have been at a party in Gemmayze, a nightlife district of the city known for its cafes and pubs, on Friday night, and left by herself around midnight. Her body was found on the Metn highway, which leads out of Beirut to the north-east suburbs, without any identity papers. A forensic examination suggested she had died sometime around 4am on Saturday.
“We request that the media respect our privacy as we come together as a family at this very difficult time.” The British ambassador to Lebanon, Hugo Shorter, tweeted: “The whole embassy is deeply shocked, saddened by this news. My thoughts are with Becky’s family, friends and colleagues for their tragic loss. We’re providing consular support to her family and working very closely with Lebanese authorities who are conducting police investigation.”
A Department for International Development spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with Becky’s family and friends at this very upsetting time. A family spokesman said: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. We are doing all we can to understand what happened. We request that the media respect our privacy as we come together as a family at this very difficult time.”
“There is now a police investigation and the FCO [Foreign Office] is providing consular support to Becky’s family and working with the local authorities.” Dykes was working as a programme and policy manager with the Department for International Development (DfID) and as a policy manager with the Libya team at the Foreign Office (FCO), according to her LinkedIn page.
The Foreign Office said it was in contact with the Lebanese authorities. She had previously worked as an Iraq research analyst with the FCO. The University of Manchester graduate also had a masters in international security and global governance from Birkbeck, University of London.
“Following the death of a British woman in Beirut, we are providing support to the family,” a spokesman said. “We remain in close contact with local authorities. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.” An FCO spokesman said: “Following the death of a British woman in Beirut, we are providing support to the family. We remain in close contact with local authorities. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.”
The information branch of Lebanon’s internal security forces, essentially the intelligence department of the police, is conducting the investigation.
A DfID spokesman said: “There is now a police investigation and the FCO is providing consular support to Becky’s family and working with the local authorities.”