British tourists evacuated from Kenya after terror threat
Tourists join locals to mark the Annual Maulid Festivals in Lamu Island on this photo taken on January 30, 2014. British tourists were evacuated from Kenya ON May 15, 2014 after terror threat. PHOTO/KEVIN ODIT.
What you need to know:
- The British Government issued a new travel advisory to its citizens early this week
- The UK advised the country’s citizens to avoid travelling to Mombasa, Eastleigh in Nairobi
Hundreds of British tourists have been evacuated from Kenya following a travel advisory issued by the United Kingdom government of a possible terror attack.
An official at the Moi International Airport Mombasa who did not want to be named said 336 tourists left the country Thursday evening aboard a Thompson plane.
The official said more tourists will leave Mombasa Friday at 3pm.
“There are two planes chartered to take the British tourists back to the UK,” said the official.
A Thomson plane was at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa waiting to evacuate more tourists Friday.
A statement posted by Thompson tours on its website indicated that it has cancelled all flights to Mombasa until October 31, 2014.
The company said they arrived at the decision following advise from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) against all but essential travel to Mombasa island, Kenya.
“As a precautionary measure, we have also taken the decision to repatriate all customers currently on holiday in Kenya, including our Air Fare passengers back to the UK on Thursday and Friday this week,” the statement read.
“ We understand that many customers will be very disappointed about the cancellation of their holiday to Kenya. However, in these types of situation we have to follow the FCO advice,” the tour company said.
The company indicated two flights will leave Kenya, the first left on Thursday at 11.15pm and the second one will fly out Friday at 3pm
The British Government issued a new travel advisory to its citizens early this week.
The UK advised the country’s citizens to avoid travelling to Mombasa, Eastleigh in Nairobi and areas within 60 kilometres of the Kenya-Somalia border
