British detectives lend a hand in probe of Lamu tourist killing
What you need to know:
- Briton was shot dead and his wife abducted at exclusive resort
British detectives are in the country to help investigate the weekend killing of a Briton and abduction of his wife at Kiwayu Safari Village in Lamu.
The detectives from Metropolitan Police unit on Tuesday dusted for fingerprints in the room where Mr David Tebbutt, 58, was gunned down and his wife Judith, 56, abducted by armed men.
“The scene had been sealed off when they arrived. The plain clothes policemen spent last night (Monday) talking to workers and management,” said a source.
A British high commission in Nairobi official said: “A team of Metropolitan Police officers from the UK are in the country to help the Kenya police with the investigations.”
A security source said the attackers could be members of al Shabaab terrorist group, adding that they could demand ransom for Mrs Tebbutt. (READ: Briton killed, wife kidnapped in Kenyan coast)
“The group is in a severe financial crisis and has turned to abduction as a source of income. The killing of Osama bin Laden and Fazul Mohammed has had terrible financial implication on al Shabaab,” said the source
Officers from the Kenya Anti-Terrorism Police Unit also visited the exclusive resort and questioned staff. The Criminal Investigation Department is also on the case.
The raid is said to have been carried out by at least nine gunmen. Sources said the attackers were first spotted on August 27, in a forest adjacent to the Dodori National Reserve.
A worker at the resort said they were alerted about the strangers by a neighbour’s farmhand.
“He alerted us that some nine armed Somali men ambushed him while cutting trees in the forest and he pleaded with them not to kill him. They let him go with a stern warning that he should not say anything about them,” he said.
The employee said they heard a single gunshot and called the police. They went to the hotel and found the Briton lying dead on the floor.
But Coast Provincial Police Officer, Mr Aggrey Adoli, said they were not aware of the claims.
“We have not received reports of any threats or warning. As far as we know, they arrived by motor boat. There is no evidence of them (attackers) coming earlier,” Mr Adoli said.
