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Thailand deaths: Two British tourists killed in Koh Tao | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two British tourists have been found dead on a beach in southern Thailand, according to local police. | Two British tourists have been found dead on a beach in southern Thailand, according to local police. |
Police believe the man and woman were attacked and killed on Sunday night, on a beach on the island of Koh Tao. | |
The victims, whose bodies were found with serious injuries early on Monday, were a 23-year-old woman from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and a 24-year-old man from Jersey. | |
The UK Foreign Office said it was urgently investigating the reports. | The UK Foreign Office said it was urgently investigating the reports. |
Jersey Police said they had been contacted by the British Embassy and were co-operating with the Thai and British authorities who are leading the investigation. | Jersey Police said they had been contacted by the British Embassy and were co-operating with the Thai and British authorities who are leading the investigation. |
'Boats blocked' | 'Boats blocked' |
The bodies of the pair were found close to the beach-side bungalows where they had been staying. | |
Local police said both had suffered serious injuries and a garden hoe, believed to have been used in the attack, was found nearby. | |
Police said they have yet to identify a motive or suspect but boats have have been blocked from leaving the island. | |
The tourists had arrived in Thailand last month. | |
Police have been reviewing closed circuit TV footage from nearby restaurants, hotels and shops. | Police have been reviewing closed circuit TV footage from nearby restaurants, hotels and shops. |
There was a beach party on Sunday night, about 100 metres from where the bodies were found, according to local media. | There was a beach party on Sunday night, about 100 metres from where the bodies were found, according to local media. |
The Foreign Office said: "The embassy are urgently seeking information from the local authorities and consular staff stand ready to provide assistance to friends and family at this tragic time." | The Foreign Office said: "The embassy are urgently seeking information from the local authorities and consular staff stand ready to provide assistance to friends and family at this tragic time." |
Koh Tao is popular with divers, but draws fewer travellers than other nearby resorts, says BBC correspondent in Bangkok, Jonathan Head. | Koh Tao is popular with divers, but draws fewer travellers than other nearby resorts, says BBC correspondent in Bangkok, Jonathan Head. |
The authorities are likely to move quickly to investigate the deaths to maintain confidence in a tourist industry which accounts for around a tenth of Thailand's GDP, and which has been hit hard by recent political turmoil, said our correspondent. | |
Violent crime against tourists is relatively rare in Thailand, but embassies have warned of higher risks to visitors at some of the country's popular beach resorts, he added. |