A BRITISH tourist has been killed and his wife kidnapped after suspected Somali pirates stormed their villa at an exclusive Kenyan resort.
They were attacked by at least five men as they lay in bed in their beachside villa at 2am yesterday.
David Tebbutt, 58, is believed to have been shot trying to protect wife Judith, 56, from the raiders.
They bundled her into a speedboat and vanished.
The couple, from Bishop's Stortford, Herts, had been at the Kiwayu Safari Village just a few hours and were the only guests.
The secluded resort is 18 miles from the border with war-ravaged Somalia, notorious for its pirates.
Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said a massive search involving military boats, helicopters and ground forces had begun at dawn.
He added: "We are hoping that we will be able to at least find the lady.
"We believe it is a kidnap but we are yet to receive any communication from the alleged kidnappers." Pirates tend not to raid on land and it is rare for them to harm any victims because they want to ransom them.
That has led to speculation that the attack could be the work of local Islamic fanatics who wanted to make their mark on the 9/11 anniversary.
But police commissioner Mathew Iteere said: "So far we are treating it as a bandit attack. We've not received any hint pointing at a terror group.
"They may contact us demanding a ransom.
"Maybe they are from Somalia but we cannot be certain. They gained entry easily because there was only a piece of cloth in place of a door."
Mr Tebbutt, was finance director for publishers Faber and Faber. He and his wife have a son Oliver, 25, who makes wooden furniture in the West Country.
Neighbour Fiona Jones said the couple were "hugely friendly people" and keen gardeners who kept chickens.
The Kiwayu resort is made up of 18 luxury villas spread along a private beach. Holidaymakers pay from 280 a night.
Previous guests include Princes William and Harry, Mick Jagger and artist Tracey Emin. Tracey has described it as "one of my favourite places on earth. It's so tranquil."
The resort's website says it takes security and safety "very seriously". The site backs on to hundreds of miles of bush.
The Foreign Office said last night: "We can confirm that two British nationals were attacked. One was killed and another kidnapped."
Paul Chandler, 61, and wife Rachel, 56, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, were released unharmed last November more than a year after Somali pirates abducted them from their yacht. They were freed after a ransom was paid.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario