Two British tourists have been found dead on a beach in southern Thailand, according to local police.
The man and woman found on the island of Koh Tao are understood to have suffered serious head wounds.
The victims, whose bodies were found early on Monday, were a 23-year-old woman from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and a 24-year-old man from Jersey, according to the Thai authorities.
The UK Foreign Office said it was urgently investigating the reports.
Jersey Police said they had been contacted by the British Embassy and were co-operating with the Thai and British authorities who are leading the investigation.
'Boats blocked' The pair arrived in Thailand last month, according to a police official, who said officers were yet to identify a suspect or motive.
Meanwhile, boats have been blocked from leaving the island.
Police at scene Police have cordoned off the scene Police have been reviewing closed circuit TV footage from nearby restaurants, hotels and shops.
There was a beach party on Sunday night, about 100 metres from where the bodies were found, according to local media.
The Foreign Office said: "The embassy are urgently seeking information from the local authorities and consular staff stand ready to provide assistance to friends and family at this tragic time."
Koh Tao is popular with divers, but draws fewer travellers than other nearby resorts, says BBC correspondent in Bangkok, Jonathan Head.
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 south east 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 Pha Ngan - 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.
The latest murder is a further setback for Thailand's tourism industry which is still recovering from the military coup which took place in May this year.
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 h
And as further details began to emerge today, detectives revealed they are searching for a British man, believed to be a friend of one of the victims, who left the island on an early ferry this morning and is heading to Bangkok, ITV News reported
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And as further details began to emerge today, detectives revealed they are searching for a British man, believed to be a friend of one of the victims, who left the island on an early ferry this morning and is heading to Bangkok, ITV News reported Rea
Not sure about the `searching for a British man` situation Crisp, barring that headline there is nothing else.
Got me thinking to my time on Koh Phangan and waking up to shadowy faces looking into my hut in the early hours of the morning. I yelled `Oi you bastards fook off` at the top of my voice and they scarpered. Gave me the heebie geebies for the next few days.
Not sure about the `searching for a British man` situation Crisp, barring that headline there is nothing else.Got me thinking to my time on Koh Phangan and waking up to shadowy faces looking into my hut in the early hours of the morning. I yelled `Oi
Police in Thailand have said they are hunting a British man in connection with the brutal murder of two backpackers on the Thai holiday island of Koh Tao.
Police in Thailand have said they are hunting a British man in connection with the brutal murder of two backpackers on the Thai holiday island of Koh Tao.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/11097289/Thai-police-hunt-British-man-af
Police also temporarily detained another friend of the victim after it emerged that he had injuries to his hands, but he was released after providing what the police described as a "satisfactory explanation"
Why not release the other guys name so we can find the kont?
That`s clearer Crisp. Police also temporarily detained another friend of the victim after it emerged that he had injuries to his hands, but he was released after providing what the police described as a "satisfactory explanation"Why not release the o
Always favourite Crisp, even if it was the jealous British backpacker who was in the frame, i couldn`t see him using a garden hoe he had just picked up at the full moon party.
Always favourite Crisp, even if it was the jealous British backpacker who was in the frame, i couldn`t see him using a garden hoe he had just picked up at the full moon party.
Thai police believe they have CCTV showing David Miller and Hannah Witheridge before their deaths.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29225672
He seems to be carrying a decent looking camera flung over his shoulder/his back. His family describe him as an artist in his ways. Where they having sex on the beach and were both whacked with the garden hoe, he from behind and as he fell away she was hit in the face(reports of her face being copped and the back of his head being chopped)...perhaps she wasn`t raped they may have been having sex on the beach when attacked and robbed.
Thai police believe they have CCTV showing David Miller and Hannah Witheridge before their deaths.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29225672He seems to be carrying a decent looking camera flung over his shoulder/his back. His family describe him as an art
The pair on that CCTV image don't look like either victim, particularly Hannah Witheridge.
Not sure anything about this investigation makes sense to me.
The pair on that CCTV image don't look like either victim, particularly Hannah Witheridge.Not sure anything about this investigation makes sense to me.
Had she dyed her hair back to brown because of the attraction to blonds in Asia? certainly not a blond in the rough grain image if it is her. I don`t think she was a natural blond.
Had she dyed her hair back to brown because of the attraction to blonds in Asia? certainly not a blond in the rough grain image if it is her. I don`t think she was a natural blond.
I'd say the fella looked bigger than he is, especially in the face. Again, possibly slightly akin to more Asian features. The whole story, investigation, doesn't add up to me, and the CCTV released has made me more cynical.
I'd say the fella looked bigger than he is, especially in the face. Again, possibly slightly akin to more Asian features. The whole story, investigation, doesn't add up to me, and the CCTV released has made me more cynical.
Seems like the Thai police finally realise it's not them.http://www.malaysiandigest.com/world/518929-murdered-britons-not-the-ones-in-photograph-say-thai-police.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitterThai Police - Inept? Or corrupt?
If it wasn't for the actions of his so-called friend - not entirely watertight evidence I know - I'd entirely agree with that. I'm certainly unsure whether any of their investigation would stand up in a UK court though.
If it wasn't for the actions of his so-called friend - not entirely watertight evidence I know - I'd entirely agree with that. I'm certainly unsure whether any of their investigation would stand up in a UK court though.
I dont think AG is far away from what happened with the robbery thing
Spent 2 weeks on Koh Tao couple of years back and missus had her iphone lifted from her handbag first night there at a beach party. No point telling the old bill as there isnt any, they come on the boat from Samui or Panghan.
Some right dodgy punters about, had to watch it if you got swerved up later on imo. Not quite the paradise it's painted
I dont think AG is far away from what happened with the robbery thingSpent 2 weeks on Koh Tao couple of years back and missus had her iphone lifted from her handbag first night there at a beach party. No point telling the old bill as there isnt any,
Having seen the pictures of the crime scene and the evidence "bags", I'm not surprised there's no DNA matches. I wouldn't be surprised if there's about 20 sets of DNA on some of the evidence.
Having seen the pictures of the crime scene and the evidence "bags", I'm not surprised there's no DNA matches. I wouldn't be surprised if there's about 20 sets of DNA on some of the evidence.
Thai police renowned for setting up backpackers one way or another so are as corrupt as they come. Releasing the image that obviously wasn`t them (Darlo got there before me)..contaminated evidence, they will probably end up framing some junkie.
Thai police renowned for setting up backpackers one way or another so are as corrupt as they come. Releasing the image that obviously wasn`t them (Darlo got there before me)..contaminated evidence, they will probably end up framing some junkie.
Odd place, Britain. Every day, 13 million CCTV cameras track our movements. We're PIN-numbered, databased, credit-rated, nannied, Neighbourhood Watched, Facebooked, emailed and GPS-ed. You wouldn't think any of us could slip away unnoticed. But we do, in ever-increasing quantities. An Independent on Sunday investigation has established that the numbers of Britons who disappear each year is now at record levels. Missing People, the charity that helps both the disappeared and those left behind, told us that 250,000 missing persons reports each year.
Odd place, Britain. Every day, 13 million CCTV cameras track our movements. We're PIN-numbered, databased, credit-rated, nannied, Neighbourhood Watched, Facebooked, emailed and GPS-ed. You wouldn't think any of us could slip away unnoticed. But we do