This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7595757.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Briton held in missing woman case | Briton held in missing woman case |
| (1 day later) | |
| A British man has been arrested by police in Dubai in connection with the disappearance of a South African woman. | A British man has been arrested by police in Dubai in connection with the disappearance of a South African woman. |
| Kerry Winter, 35, has not been seen since 20 August, when witnesses reported seeing a man beat her with a baseball bat. | Kerry Winter, 35, has not been seen since 20 August, when witnesses reported seeing a man beat her with a baseball bat. |
| The attacker was then said to have bundled Miss Winter into her car, before driving off. | The attacker was then said to have bundled Miss Winter into her car, before driving off. |
| The UK Foreign Office has confirmed Mark Arnold, 42, is being held and consular assistance is being provided. | |
| Police in Dubai have so far released little detail about the case, other than to say Miss Winter is still missing. | Police in Dubai have so far released little detail about the case, other than to say Miss Winter is still missing. |
| A 'good friend' | A 'good friend' |
| The body of a woman found in the desert on Wednesday morning was not linked to the case, officers said. | The body of a woman found in the desert on Wednesday morning was not linked to the case, officers said. |
| A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "We can confirm a British national was arrested in Dubai on August 25 and we are providing consular assistance. | |
| "As far as we are aware, he's not been charged." | |
| Mr Arnold is understood to be a company director who is originally from Stoke-on-Trent. | |
| Miss Winter has been working as an events manager in the United Arab Emirates for seven years. | Miss Winter has been working as an events manager in the United Arab Emirates for seven years. |
| There's still hope but we're really anxious Kurt Winter | There's still hope but we're really anxious Kurt Winter |
| Her brother Kurt, 41, described her as a "good friend" who loved travel and enjoyed life in Dubai. | Her brother Kurt, 41, described her as a "good friend" who loved travel and enjoyed life in Dubai. |
| Mr Winter has been told the attack took place outside his sister's house. | Mr Winter has been told the attack took place outside his sister's house. |
| He said: "We believe the attacker punched her in the face. | He said: "We believe the attacker punched her in the face. |
| "Witnesses said he had a baseball bat, while others said it was a stick. He then bundled her in the car and drove off. | "Witnesses said he had a baseball bat, while others said it was a stick. He then bundled her in the car and drove off. |
| "We are unaware of her whereabouts thereafter." | "We are unaware of her whereabouts thereafter." |
| Mr Winter fears she has been dumped in the desert and - together with his son-in-law David Giles - has begun searching. | Mr Winter fears she has been dumped in the desert and - together with his son-in-law David Giles - has begun searching. |
| "We are looking for any sort of clues but it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack," he said. | "We are looking for any sort of clues but it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack," he said. |
| Mr Winter said family and friends will be holding a prayer vigil on Friday. | Mr Winter said family and friends will be holding a prayer vigil on Friday. |
| "As long as she's not found dead then there's still hope but we are really anxious," he said. | "As long as she's not found dead then there's still hope but we are really anxious," he said. |
| Laboratory tests | Laboratory tests |
| The family sent text messages to Miss Winter's mobile phone and received replies to say she was fine. | The family sent text messages to Miss Winter's mobile phone and received replies to say she was fine. |
| However, they now believe it was not Miss Winter who answered. | However, they now believe it was not Miss Winter who answered. |
| "Police have told us they found her car and it has gone to the laboratory for tests but we don't know anything more," Mr Winter said. | "Police have told us they found her car and it has gone to the laboratory for tests but we don't know anything more," Mr Winter said. |
| A spokesman for the South African Foreign Affairs Department said: "We are in contact with the United Arab Emirates foreign ministry and police to follow up the matter. | A spokesman for the South African Foreign Affairs Department said: "We are in contact with the United Arab Emirates foreign ministry and police to follow up the matter. |
| "We are providing consular assistance to the family." | "We are providing consular assistance to the family." |
Previous version
1
Next version