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| Kenyan terror threat prompts evacuation of UK tourists | Kenyan terror threat prompts evacuation of UK tourists |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hundreds of British tourists are being evacuated from Kenya after the Foreign Office warned there was a "high threat" from terrorists in the country. | Hundreds of British tourists are being evacuated from Kenya after the Foreign Office warned there was a "high threat" from terrorists in the country. |
| Tour operators Thomson and First Choice cancelled all flights to Mombasa until October and said holidaymakers would be flown back as a precautionary measure. | Tour operators Thomson and First Choice cancelled all flights to Mombasa until October and said holidaymakers would be flown back as a precautionary measure. |
| As many as 500 people are affected, the Telegraph newspaper reported. | As many as 500 people are affected, the Telegraph newspaper reported. |
| The FCO said the main threat came from extremists linked to the militant Islamist al-Shabab group. | The FCO said the main threat came from extremists linked to the militant Islamist al-Shabab group. |
| It advised against all non-essential travel to anywhere within 37 miles (60km) of the Kenyan-Somali border. | It advised against all non-essential travel to anywhere within 37 miles (60km) of the Kenyan-Somali border. |
| Thomson said those already in the country would be flown out either overnight on Thursday or later on Friday. | Thomson said those already in the country would be flown out either overnight on Thursday or later on Friday. |
| Tourists have also been warned to avoid the Mombasa Island area, but the FCO said its advice did not include the Diani beach resort or Moi (Mombasa) airport. | |
| The United States, France and Australia issued similar alerts, prompting the Kenyan government to criticise the advice as "obviously unfriendly". | |
| Fearing the impact on the country's tourism industry, Interior Ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka said: "The threats are perpetual, we are at war. But we have not received any specific threat on the hotels." | |
| British tourist Matilda Evan told the Reuters news agency: "Six days of my holiday have gone to waste just like that. | |
| "But again, when your government tells you to leave for security reasons, what else can do you do?" | |
| Augustine Conall told journalists at Mombasa's Moi International Airport he was worried his insurance would now be invalid. | |
| "Our families are also worried and are calling us and telling us to go back," Reuters reported him saying. | |
| Vigilance | |
| Al-Shabab have carried out a spate of attacks in the region in response to the Kenyan military's intervention in Somalia. | Al-Shabab have carried out a spate of attacks in the region in response to the Kenyan military's intervention in Somalia. |
| "There is a high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping," according to the Foreign Office travel advice. | "There is a high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping," according to the Foreign Office travel advice. |
| "There has been a spate of small-scale grenade, bomb and armed attacks in Nairobi (especially the area of Eastleigh), Mombasa, and North Eastern Province. | "There has been a spate of small-scale grenade, bomb and armed attacks in Nairobi (especially the area of Eastleigh), Mombasa, and North Eastern Province. |
| "You should take care in public places where people gather, and exercise a heightened level of vigilance. " | "You should take care in public places where people gather, and exercise a heightened level of vigilance. " |
| Three people were killed and more than 80 wounded in explosions on two buses in the capital Nairobi earlier this month. | Three people were killed and more than 80 wounded in explosions on two buses in the capital Nairobi earlier this month. |
| The Kenyan government said al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, was behind the attacks. | The Kenyan government said al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, was behind the attacks. |
| The the most high profile of the group's recent attacks saw 67 people killed when its fighters stormed the Westgate shopping centre in September. | The the most high profile of the group's recent attacks saw 67 people killed when its fighters stormed the Westgate shopping centre in September. |
| Thomson said customers due to fly to Mombasa before November should contact its call centre or their travel agent. | Thomson said customers due to fly to Mombasa before November should contact its call centre or their travel agent. |
| "We understand that many customers will be very disappointed about the cancellation of their holiday to Kenya," the company said. | "We understand that many customers will be very disappointed about the cancellation of their holiday to Kenya," the company said. |
| "However, in these types of situations we have to follow the FCO advice." | "However, in these types of situations we have to follow the FCO advice." |
| Customers travelling on a Thomson Airways flight-only booking were advised to contact the airline's resort office on +254 (0) 716979338 or its 24-hour holiday line +44 2476 282228. | Customers travelling on a Thomson Airways flight-only booking were advised to contact the airline's resort office on +254 (0) 716979338 or its 24-hour holiday line +44 2476 282228. |
| Are you in Kenya? Are you or anyone you know affected by the evacuation? If you are happy to speak to the BBC you can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Kenya'. |