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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| British tourists murdered in Thailand | British tourists murdered in Thailand |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two British tourists have been found murdered on a beach at a popular island resort in southern Thailand. | Two British tourists have been found murdered on a beach at a popular island resort in southern Thailand. |
| The man and woman were found stripped with several wounds to their bodies near a beachside bungalow on the island of Koh Tao. Police described the woman as 23 and from Great Yarmouth and the man as 24 and from Jersey. | |
| The Foreign Office said on Monday it was looking into the deaths: "We are aware of the death of two British nationals on 15 September on the island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand. The embassy is urgently seeking information from the local authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance as needed." | The Foreign Office said on Monday it was looking into the deaths: "We are aware of the death of two British nationals on 15 September on the island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand. The embassy is urgently seeking information from the local authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance as needed." |
| Local police official Jakkrapan Kaewkhao told the AFP news agency the pair had been murdered and found naked on a rocky beach on the island in Surat Thani province, which is popular for its diving sites. | Local police official Jakkrapan Kaewkhao told the AFP news agency the pair had been murdered and found naked on a rocky beach on the island in Surat Thani province, which is popular for its diving sites. |
| "Their bodies were found 30 metres [100ft] from [the] bungalow," said Jakkrapan, adding that the pair had arrived in Thailand on 25 August. | "Their bodies were found 30 metres [100ft] from [the] bungalow," said Jakkrapan, adding that the pair had arrived in Thailand on 25 August. |
| The victims' clothes and a bloodstained hoe were found nearby. Police said the pair had deep head wounds, believed to have been caused by the hoe. | The victims' clothes and a bloodstained hoe were found nearby. Police said the pair had deep head wounds, believed to have been caused by the hoe. |
| Detectives appealed for witnesses as they launched a murder investigation. They were checking CCTV footage at nearby restaurants, hotels and shops for clues. | Detectives appealed for witnesses as they launched a murder investigation. They were checking CCTV footage at nearby restaurants, hotels and shops for clues. |
| An employee at the seaside resort where the pair were staying told AFP the bodies were found behind large rocks on the beach. "It was the first time this has happened on the island, I have never seen anything like this," the staff member added, requesting anonymity. | An employee at the seaside resort where the pair were staying told AFP the bodies were found behind large rocks on the beach. "It was the first time this has happened on the island, I have never seen anything like this," the staff member added, requesting anonymity. |
| Local media reports said there had been a beach party for about 50 people, mainly tourists, on Sunday night that lasted into Monday morning. | Local media reports said there had been a beach party for about 50 people, mainly tourists, on Sunday night that lasted into Monday morning. |
| The mountainous island of Koh Tao, which is described on backpackers' websites as "an island of adventure action sports and an island of peace and tranquility", was on lockdown while police launched a manhunt to find the murder suspect. | The mountainous island of Koh Tao, which is described on backpackers' websites as "an island of adventure action sports and an island of peace and tranquility", was on lockdown while police launched a manhunt to find the murder suspect. |
| Koh Tao is popular with tourists but draws fewer travellers than the neighbouring Koh Phangnan, home to the hedonistic "full moon" party. The double-murder comes a day before the half moon party, a similar event that attracts tens of thousands of revellers each month. | Koh Tao is popular with tourists but draws fewer travellers than the neighbouring Koh Phangnan, home to the hedonistic "full moon" party. The double-murder comes a day before the half moon party, a similar event that attracts tens of thousands of revellers each month. |
| Thailand's lucrative tourism industry has been battered in recent months after a prolonged political crisis ended a coup which saw the army blanket the country with a curfew and strict martial law. | Thailand's lucrative tourism industry has been battered in recent months after a prolonged political crisis ended a coup which saw the army blanket the country with a curfew and strict martial law. |
| Although the curfew was swiftly lifted from key tourist hotspots, visitor numbers are yet to rebound. | |
| Thailand's military leaders have vowed to clean up the kingdom's tourist resorts after complaints of scams, assaults and even police extortion. | Thailand's military leaders have vowed to clean up the kingdom's tourist resorts after complaints of scams, assaults and even police extortion. |