Two British tourists have been found dead on a beach in southern Thailand following a “gruesome” attack.
Thai police described the two as a 23-year-old woman from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and a 24-year-old man from Jersey.
Their bodies were discovered early yesterday on Koh Tao, a small island known for its diving sites and serene beaches.
A bloodied hoe was found near the bodies and is believed to have been used as the murder weapon, police chief Prachum Ruangthong said.
“The man was chopped in the back and on the side of his head, while the woman was chopped in her face,” he said.
“It’s very gruesome.”
Police said they had no immediate suspects and are checking CCTV cameras at nearby restaurants, hotels and shops in search of the attackers.
Investigators are also looking for witnesses who might know if the pair attended a nearby late-night beach party.
Local media reported that outraged residents of the island, which is home to about 2,000 people and relies on its tourist industry, had blockaded its piers to help police prevent the killers from escaping.
They went out to a bar and left together after 1am
The attack came amid government efforts to revive Thailand’s tourism industry after a military coup in May ended prolonged, sometimes violent political protests.
Martial law remains in effect.
An initial investigation found that the victims had travelled separately to Koh Tao, where they met while staying at the same easide hotel, police Major General Kiattipong Khawsamang said.
“They went out to a bar and left together after 1am, according to CCTV footage,” he said.
Police said they have no immediate suspects and are checking more camera footage in search of the attacker.
“We don’t know who the suspect might be yet, but we have talked to different witnesses who might lead us to some clues,” Kiattipong said.
He added that the woman was travelling with three other friends.
Koh Tao, an island in Surat Thani province, is a quieter destination than the neighbouring islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, where “full moon” parties attract travellers from Thailand and abroad.
It lies 250 miles south of Bangkok.
Danger lurking in paradise resorts
Thailand’s seemingly idyllic island resorts can spell danger to tourists, as the brutal murder of two British travellers illustrates only too clearly.
Glowing travel brochure descriptions of tranquil, turquoise waters, sandy beaches and jungle walks hide the fact that crime is a constant factor in this part of Southeast Asia.
According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), as many as 11 Britons have been murdered in Thailand since 2009.
In a 2012/13 New Year’s Eve party, Londoner Stephen Ashton, 22, was killed in a bar on Haad Rin beach on the Thai island of Koh Phangan – a resort where the FCO warns British travellers to beware 'vicious, unprovoked attacks by gangs'.
The FCO says such attacks are particularly common around the time of Full Moon parties and generally occur late at night near bars in Haad Rin. British visitors are also warned that violent assaults and robberies have been reported in the resort town of Chaweng in Koh Samui.
Attacks have also occurred in other tourist districts in Thailand including Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Krabi.
In July last year an American was stabbed to death and his son seriously injured in an attack in a bar in Krabi.
On crime generally, the FCO warns Britons to beware scams, pickpockets, bag-snatchers and credit card fraud.
Just a few weeks ago, the FCO published comprehensive, country-by-country lists of places where Britons needed consular assistance in the 12 months ending March 2014.