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| Thailand beach murders: Police 'detain three Burmese migrant workers for questioning' over deaths of British tourists David Miller and Hannah Witheridge | Thailand beach murders: Police 'detain three Burmese migrant workers for questioning' over deaths of British tourists David Miller and Hannah Witheridge |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police in Thailand are examining CCTV footage believed to show two British tourists leaving a bar just hours before their battered bodies were discovered on a beach. | Police in Thailand are examining CCTV footage believed to show two British tourists leaving a bar just hours before their battered bodies were discovered on a beach. |
| Officers want to locate an “Asian-looking man”, also captured by the cameras, whom they consider a prime suspect in the killings and reports said three Burmese migrant workers had been detained for questioning. | Officers want to locate an “Asian-looking man”, also captured by the cameras, whom they consider a prime suspect in the killings and reports said three Burmese migrant workers had been detained for questioning. |
| As the bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were flown to Bangkok for forensic tests, more than 70 officers were on Tuesday involved in the sweep of Koh Tao, the southern island where the the bodies of the tourists were found in the early hours of Monday morning. Both had suffered severe head injuries. | As the bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were flown to Bangkok for forensic tests, more than 70 officers were on Tuesday involved in the sweep of Koh Tao, the southern island where the the bodies of the tourists were found in the early hours of Monday morning. Both had suffered severe head injuries. |
| As officers questioned tourists, locals and foreign workers as part of their inquiry and collected DNA samples, a senior police official said footage from a local bar appeared to show the Britons leaving hand-in-hand at around 1am. | As officers questioned tourists, locals and foreign workers as part of their inquiry and collected DNA samples, a senior police official said footage from a local bar appeared to show the Britons leaving hand-in-hand at around 1am. |
| Witnesses have said the two tourists later joined around 50 people for a party on the beach. Police said the CCTV cameras had also captured a single man walking in the same direction. | Witnesses have said the two tourists later joined around 50 people for a party on the beach. Police said the CCTV cameras had also captured a single man walking in the same direction. |
| “They went out to a bar and left together after 1am, according to closed circuit TV camera footage,” said senior police official Maj Gen Kiattipong Khawsamang, according to the Associated Press. | “They went out to a bar and left together after 1am, according to closed circuit TV camera footage,” said senior police official Maj Gen Kiattipong Khawsamang, according to the Associated Press. |
| Mr Kiattipong said the man seen later walking in the same direction appeared to be Asian and was considered a prime suspect, though he did not offer any other evidence. | |
| “We are focusing on migrant workers because of the surrounding witnesses and evidence, including the video footage,” he said. “We are sweeping hotels, bars, businesses and residences of migrant workers on the beach to find the suspect.” | “We are focusing on migrant workers because of the surrounding witnesses and evidence, including the video footage,” he said. “We are sweeping hotels, bars, businesses and residences of migrant workers on the beach to find the suspect.” |
| The AFP later reported that three Burmese workers had been detained by police and were being questioned by officers. | The AFP later reported that three Burmese workers had been detained by police and were being questioned by officers. |
| The partly naked bodies of the two tourists were found less than 100 metres from the location of where the beach party had been held on Sunday night. Police said a blood-stained hoe was found near the bodies and officers suspect it was the murder weapon. | The partly naked bodies of the two tourists were found less than 100 metres from the location of where the beach party had been held on Sunday night. Police said a blood-stained hoe was found near the bodies and officers suspect it was the murder weapon. |
| Mr Miller, from Jersey, and Ms Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, had travelled to the island separately. Ms Witheridge, who was doing post-graduate work at the the University of Essex in Colchester, was travelling with three female friends and had only arrived on Koh Tao, or Turtle Island, three days ago. Both she and Mr Miller were staying at the Ocean View Bungalows. | Mr Miller, from Jersey, and Ms Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, had travelled to the island separately. Ms Witheridge, who was doing post-graduate work at the the University of Essex in Colchester, was travelling with three female friends and had only arrived on Koh Tao, or Turtle Island, three days ago. Both she and Mr Miller were staying at the Ocean View Bungalows. |
| Thai workers carry the bodies of two British tourists on Koh Tao island in the Surat Thani province of southern Thailand | |
| The bodies of the tourists were discovered at around 6.30am on Sai Ree beach by migrant workers from neighbouring Burma who were employed to clean the sands. | The bodies of the tourists were discovered at around 6.30am on Sai Ree beach by migrant workers from neighbouring Burma who were employed to clean the sands. |
| There is widespread discrimination against the Burmese people living and working in Thailand. There are around 1m legally-registered Burmese workers in the country and perhaps as many as 1.5m unregistered Burmese. | There is widespread discrimination against the Burmese people living and working in Thailand. There are around 1m legally-registered Burmese workers in the country and perhaps as many as 1.5m unregistered Burmese. |
| Police had earlier said they also wanted to speak to a man, possibly a friend of Mr Miller, who had left the island on Monday morning. Another police official, Col Prachum Ruangthong, told the Associated Press that investigators were also looking for a group of bar employees and had questioned a group of foreigners as well. | Police had earlier said they also wanted to speak to a man, possibly a friend of Mr Miller, who had left the island on Monday morning. Another police official, Col Prachum Ruangthong, told the Associated Press that investigators were also looking for a group of bar employees and had questioned a group of foreigners as well. |
| Hannah Witheridge “This morning we surrounded three locations, including the residences of migrant workers, to search and collect DNA,” he said. | |
| On Monday night, about 100 local people gathered on Sai Ree Beach for a candlelit vigil and said prayers for the murdered tourists. | On Monday night, about 100 local people gathered on Sai Ree Beach for a candlelit vigil and said prayers for the murdered tourists. |
| Meanwhile, the Thai general who seized power in a coup earlier this year, called for the crime to be solved quickly. Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, who now styles himself Prime Minister after he was appointed by a hand-picked parliament, said he was concerned that Thailand’s image could be damaged. | Meanwhile, the Thai general who seized power in a coup earlier this year, called for the crime to be solved quickly. Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, who now styles himself Prime Minister after he was appointed by a hand-picked parliament, said he was concerned that Thailand’s image could be damaged. |
| “This should not have happened in Thailand,” said Mr Prayuth. “It will affect our image in the eyes of international countries.” | “This should not have happened in Thailand,” said Mr Prayuth. “It will affect our image in the eyes of international countries.” |