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Mob kills UK gems expert in Kenya | Mob kills UK gems expert in Kenya |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A leading Scottish gemstone expert has been killed in Kenya by a gang armed with clubs, spears, bows and arrows. | A leading Scottish gemstone expert has been killed in Kenya by a gang armed with clubs, spears, bows and arrows. |
Campbell Bridges, 71, was attacked by 20 men in the grounds of his 600-acre property near the southern town of Voi. | Campbell Bridges, 71, was attacked by 20 men in the grounds of his 600-acre property near the southern town of Voi. |
He fought off the mob with his son Bruce and four Kenyan staff but died of his injuries on arrival at hospital. | He fought off the mob with his son Bruce and four Kenyan staff but died of his injuries on arrival at hospital. |
Police are investigating the attack which is reportedly connected to a three-year dispute over access and control of Mr Bridges' gemstone mines. | Police are investigating the attack which is reportedly connected to a three-year dispute over access and control of Mr Bridges' gemstone mines. |
Police said he was driving his pick-up truck in the grounds of his home within a national park when he was ambushed by about 20 men brandishing crude home-made weapons. | Police said he was driving his pick-up truck in the grounds of his home within a national park when he was ambushed by about 20 men brandishing crude home-made weapons. |
Witnesses said his injuries were caused by stab wounds from a knife. No-one else was injured in the attack on Tuesday. | Witnesses said his injuries were caused by stab wounds from a knife. No-one else was injured in the attack on Tuesday. |
Mr Bridges' body has since been flown to the capital Nairobi. | Mr Bridges' body has since been flown to the capital Nairobi. |
He would stand up to anyone. He would have gone in with his fists flying if someone attacked him The Rev John EllisonVictim's friend class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8199627.stm">Murdered gems expert's son speaks | |
A close friend, the Rev John Ellison, 72, from Alton, Hampshire, told the BBC Scotland news website that the internationally-renowned gemmologist would have put up a strong fight. | A close friend, the Rev John Ellison, 72, from Alton, Hampshire, told the BBC Scotland news website that the internationally-renowned gemmologist would have put up a strong fight. |
"He was very fit, strong and confrontational but a lovely man nevertheless," he said. | "He was very fit, strong and confrontational but a lovely man nevertheless," he said. |
"He would stand up to anyone. He would have gone in with his fists flying if someone attacked him." | "He would stand up to anyone. He would have gone in with his fists flying if someone attacked him." |
He added that his "wonderful" friend had "a quick fuse if anyone was dishonest". | He added that his "wonderful" friend had "a quick fuse if anyone was dishonest". |
Mr Bridges was brought up in Scotland but had lived in the African country most of his life. | Mr Bridges was brought up in Scotland but had lived in the African country most of his life. |
He is credited with discovering the green Tsavorite gem, a rare stone unique to the region, and also worked as a special consultant to the New York jewellers, Tiffany and Co. | He is credited with discovering the green Tsavorite gem, a rare stone unique to the region, and also worked as a special consultant to the New York jewellers, Tiffany and Co. |
Mr Ellison revealed that Mr Bridges had previously been threatened as he owned mining rights and therefore knew where the deposits were. | Mr Ellison revealed that Mr Bridges had previously been threatened as he owned mining rights and therefore knew where the deposits were. |
"He was very well known in Africa and the gemstone industry, which gave him a lifetime achievement award," he said. | "He was very well known in Africa and the gemstone industry, which gave him a lifetime achievement award," he said. |
"He had a fund of stories and I was privileged to have been the first person outside his family to know of his discovery in 1971. This is terrible news." | "He had a fund of stories and I was privileged to have been the first person outside his family to know of his discovery in 1971. This is terrible news." |
A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm the death of Campbell Bridges on 11 August following injuries sustained in an attack near Voi in Kenya. | A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm the death of Campbell Bridges on 11 August following injuries sustained in an attack near Voi in Kenya. |
"British consular officials are liaising with the local authorities who have confirmed that an investigation is under way." | "British consular officials are liaising with the local authorities who have confirmed that an investigation is under way." |
Mr Bridges leaves a wife, Judy, and two grown-up children, Laura and Bruce. | Mr Bridges leaves a wife, Judy, and two grown-up children, Laura and Bruce. |