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| Thailand deaths: Two British tourists killed in Koh Tao | Thailand deaths: Two British tourists killed in Koh Tao |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two British tourists have been killed in an attack on a beach in southern Thailand, local police have said. | |
| Police believe the man and woman were attacked on Sunday night, 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 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 the man's family had been informed and police were co-operating with the Thai and British authorities who were leading the investigation. | |
| 'Boats blocked' | 'Boats blocked' |
| The bodies were found close to the beach-side bungalows where the pair 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. | 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 in the killing of the tourists, who had arrived in Thailand last month. | |
| Boats were earlier blocked from leaving the island, but the BBC's Jonathan Head said this did not last long and vessels were now taking people to and from the island. | |
| 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, said BBC south-east Asia correspondent 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. | 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. | 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. |