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Kenyan terror threat prompts evacuation of UK tourists Travel firms suspend flights to Kenya after FCO warning
(35 minutes 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 UK tourists are being evacuated from parts of Kenya, after the Foreign Office warned of 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. The FCO advised against non-essential travel to areas within 37 miles (60km) of the Kenya-Somali border.
The FCO said the main threat came from extremists linked to the militant Islamist al-Shabab group. The main threat has been 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.
Thomson said those already in the country would be flown home by Friday night.Thomson said those already in the country would be flown home by Friday night.
A spokesman confirmed a flight carrying some of the tourists landed at Gatwick on Friday morning, and the remaining holidaymakers were due to touch down at the airport at around 21:40 BST.A spokesman confirmed a flight carrying some of the tourists landed at Gatwick on Friday morning, and the remaining holidaymakers were due to touch down at the airport at around 21:40 BST.
Passenger Barry Jackson arrived back in Gatwick having spent just two days of a planned 15-day holiday in Kenya.Passenger Barry Jackson arrived back in Gatwick having spent just two days of a planned 15-day holiday in Kenya.
He told BBC News that fellow passengers had been in "good form" despite having to be flown home.He told BBC News that fellow passengers had been in "good form" despite having to be flown home.
Mr Jackson said he was trying to get another holiday arranged, while some others seemed happy to be home.Mr Jackson said he was trying to get another holiday arranged, while some others seemed happy to be home.
'Stiff upper chin''Stiff upper chin'
"The captain asked us would we please be kind to the poor stewardesses on the plane because they had a rough time, they were meant to be off, instead they were working."The captain asked us would we please be kind to the poor stewardesses on the plane because they had a rough time, they were meant to be off, instead they were working.
"Nobody said boo. Everybody was very kind, very stiff upper chin, it just had to be done.""Nobody said boo. Everybody was very kind, very stiff upper chin, it just had to be done."
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 the nearby Moi International Airport.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 the nearby Moi International Airport.
The United States, France and Australia issued similar alerts, prompting the Kenyan government to criticise the advice as "obviously unfriendly".The United States, France and Australia issued similar alerts, prompting the Kenyan government to criticise the advice as "obviously unfriendly".
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the authorities may have been given a tip-off from an informant that al-Shabab was planning an attack.BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the authorities may have been given a tip-off from an informant that al-Shabab was planning an attack.
"They've obviously picked up some kind of inside information, probably from an informant, or intercepted signals intelligence that al-Shabab are planning to carry out some kind of attack inside Kenya," he said."They've obviously picked up some kind of inside information, probably from an informant, or intercepted signals intelligence that al-Shabab are planning to carry out some kind of attack inside Kenya," he said.
"Not necessarily directed at British citizens, but westerners have always been a target of theirs.""Not necessarily directed at British citizens, but westerners have always been a target of theirs."
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."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."
Holidaymakers in the country had been told they were being evacuated "under armed guard", British tourist John Bonar said on Twitter from Kenya on Thursday. Chris Houckham-West from London was also among British tourists who landed in Gatwick on Friday.
Another, Matilda Evan, told the Reuters news agency: "Six days of my holiday have gone to waste just like that. He and his husband had been on holiday in Mombasa and were supposed to stay until Tuesday.
"But again, when your government tells you to leave for security reasons, what else can do you do?" He said he thought the FCO's decision to evacuate British tourists seemed "a bit over the top".
"We had a great time. We didn't feel unsafe at any point - when we went on safari there was security in place," he told the BBC.
"I think the FCO's stance is all a bit strange - it changed and suddenly we had to get out of the country. It seemed to be a bit over the top."
Holidaymakers had been told they were being evacuated "under armed guard", British tourist John Bonar said on Twitter from Kenya on Thursday.
VigilanceVigilance
Augustine Conall told journalists at 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.
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. "
Shopping centre attackShopping centre attack
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 most high profile of the group's recent attacks saw 67 people killed when its fighters stormed the Westgate shopping centre in September.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'.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'.