Police in Kenya are looking for an armed gang who murdered a British tourist and kidnapped his wife.
It is believed David and Judith Tebbutt from Hertfordshire were the only guests at the Kiwayu Safari Village luxury resort, which is near the border with Somalia.
British officials are now working to secure the safe release of Mrs Tebbutt after her husband was shot dead during a robbery.
The attack happened at the remote beach resort, reportedly favoured by artist Tracey Emin, actress Imelda Staunton and Sir Mick Jagger.
It is believed the gang responsible may be from Somalia, and could have used a speedboat to get away from the isolated island resort following the attack during the early hours of Sunday morning.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We can confirm that two British nationals were attacked overnight at a beach resortnorth of Lamu, near the Kenya-Somalia border.
“One was killed and another kidnapped. We are working closely with the Kenyan authorities to establish further details.
“We have deployed a consular team from our High Commission in Nairobi and are offering all possible support to the family of those involved.”
He added: “We are working to secure the safe and swift release of the British national who has been kidnapped and ask those involved to show compassion and release the individual immediately.”
The Tebbutts were attacked on the first night of their stay at the resort, officials in Kenya said, with reports suggesting the bandits broke into their accommodation.
Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere said that the couple had come from visiting the Masai Mara reserve and were the resort’s only guests.
A Kenyan security official said a policeman arrived to see six men carrying a woman away but decided not to shoot in case he hit her.
The Kiwayu Safari Village is near the border with Somalia
Sky’s Security Editor Sam Kiley said that despite of its location near the Somali border, the Kiwayu Safari Village is in a fairly safe location.
He said it is between 35 and 59 miles from Ras Komboni which is the heart of the al Qaeda affiliate group al Shabaab.
Kiley added that if Mrs Tebbutt has been taken by al Shabaab it added a “political dimension” to the kidnap.
“They might want to use their hostage for negotiating leverage with foreign powers,” he said.
The Kiwayu resort’s website states it takes “security and safety very seriously”.
It says: “Our relationship with the local community, its fishermen and the local authorities is positive and mutually beneficial.
“We regularly review our security and safety to ensure it is both comprehensive and current.”
The resort was opened in 1973 by an Italian couple and consists of 18 luxury cottages spread along a private beach.
It charges around £278 a night to stay in its beach bungalows.
Following the attack, the Foreign Office has repeated its advice for travellers not to venture within 30 miles of the Kenya-Somalia border.
“There have been previous attacks by Somali militia into Kenya,” it said.
“Three aid workers were kidnapped in July 2009, and two western nuns in November 2008.”
In 2008, British missionary Brian Thorp, 77, was murdered during a robbery on the island of Lamu.
Source : Sky News
