Bodies of foreign tourists found brutally murdered on Koh Tao beach

[webfact]

Two foreign tourists were found dead on Sairee beach in Koh Tao island


File photo: Koh Tao Sairee Beach

KOH TAO: -- Two foreign tourists were found dead on Sairee beach in Koh Tao island in Surat Thani province Monday morning.

The bodies of a female and a male tourists were undressed. They have serious wounds on their heads, local police said.

Police said both were at their twenties and were believed to be Europeans.

A bloodstained hoe was found at the scene.
Forensic police are at the scene to investigate.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/62335/


-- Thai PBS 2014-09-15

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British pair found murdered on Thai resort: police

BANGKOK, September 15, 2014 (AFP) - The naked bodies of two British tourists were found on a Thai beach Monday, police said, sparking a murder probe on the popular resort island of Koh Tao.

The unidentified man and woman, both aged 24, were found stripped with several wounds to their bodies close to a beachside bungalow on the island, a diving hot-spot near Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand.

"They were murdered and found naked on the beach. Police were informed at 6:30 am (2330 GMT)," local police official Jakkrapan Kaewkhao told AFP on telephone.

"Their bodies were found 30 metres (100 feet) from (the) bungalow," said Jakkrapan, adding the pair had arrived in Thailand on August 25.

Police are searching for witnesses and are yet to identify a suspect or motive, he added.

An employee at the budget seaside resort where they were staying told AFP the bodies were found behind a set of large rocks on the beach.

"It was the first time this has happened on the island, I have never seen anything like this," the staff member added, requesting anonymity.

Koh Tao is popular with tourists but draws fewer travellers than the neighbouring Koh Phangnan, home to the hedonistic "full moon" party.

Thailand's lucrative tourism industry has been battered in recent months after a prolonged political crisis ended a coup which saw the army blanket the country with a curfew and strict martial law.

Although the curfew was swiftly lifted from key tourist hot-spots, visitor numbers are yet to rebound.

Thailand's military leaders have vowed to clean up the kingdom's tourist resorts after complaints of scams, assaults and even police extortion.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-09-15

[webfact]

Manhunt Over Gruesome Murder of 2 Tourists On Popular Island
By Khaosod English


Hat Sai Ri Beach on Koh Tao, where two tourists were found brutally murdered on 15 Sept 2014.

SURAT THANI — Police have closed down all piers on the island of Koh Tao in an effort to entrap the suspect behind a brutal murder of two foreign tourists on the island.

Police say two Caucasian tourists, a man and a woman, were found dead near Hat Sai Ri Beach on the island this morning. The female tourist was naked and "slashed" to death, police say, while the male tourist was killed with a "cutting wound" on the back of his neck.

The two bodies were found 20 metres apart from each other, and approximately 100 metres away from the nearest bar on the beach. A bloody hoe was also found in the area, leading police to suspect that it was used in the gruesome murders.

Witnesses said they saw the two tourists, believed to be a couple, drinking and dancing with other party-goers on the beach the previous night. The pair then left the party, presumably to take a stroll, according to witnesses.

Police believe the suspect may have attempted to sexually assault the female victim before she was killed.

Koh Tao is a popular tourist destination in the Gulf of Thailand near Koh Pha Ngan island, the site of the famous Full Moon Party.

Source: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1410768025


-- Khaosod English 2014-09-15

[webfact]

Surat Thani TAT chief urges police to speed up arrest of killers of two foreign tourists

SUARAT THANI: -- The chief of Surat Thani office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand urged police to speed up arrest of killers of two western tourists on Koh Tao.

Prapas Inthasnapasat said the double murders could seriously affect Thai tourism.

Bodies of a western woman and an western man were found on a beach on Koh Tao Monday.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Surat-Thani-TAT-chief-urges-police-to-speed-up-arr-30243294.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-15

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Western woman found raped killed along with western man on Koh Tao

KOH TAO: -- Bodies of unidentified a western woman and a western man were found on a beach on Koh Tao in Surat Thani at 11 am Monday. Both had their head smashed and the womawas apparently raped, police said.

Police and local villagers were still hunting for attackers by checking all boats leaving the tourist-destination island.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Western-woman-found-raped-killed-along-with-wester-30243293.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-15

[Boater]

this is terrible !! , and a real set back for the Island , RIP to the individuals

Lets just hope the police don't collar to random fisherman for the crime, and hunt down the real suspects

[solai4]

RIP

[biker Bob]

RIP

[meatboy]

the double murders could affect thai tourism.what a statement.

what about the affect on the victims family's.

i am so ashamed to say i live here.

R.I.P.

[draftvader]

I really hope the next article reads "....and have stopped all boats that have departed the island today" as you can guarantee this individual, if they have half a brain cell, was on one of them.

[mrtoad]

That's awful , RIP

[Scully]

Koh Tao is a tiny island with just over twenty boats leaving per day. They have to catch this scum.

[epicstuff]

wow terrible news! from the more peaceful cousin of Koh Phangan. looks like the Meth has taken a firm grip of the locals there too now.

[Songhua]

Sickening news. RIP the young couple.

[webfact]

CRIME
Two foreigners brutally murdered on Koh Tao

BANGKOK: -- Police were hunting on Monday for the killers of a foreign man and woman who were found brutally murdered on Koh Tao in Pangan district of Surat Thani province.

Surat Thani police chief Pol Lt Gen Punya Mamen boarded a helicopter to the island, which is one of Thailand most popular diving sites for foreigners. He ordered police to seal the island in a bid to find the killers.

It is believed that the female victim was raped before being murdered. Police are still trying to identify the bodies and where they come from.

Villagers on the island were cooperating with police in hunting for the killers, who are believed to number two or perhaps three. The murders have tarnished the island's image.

Initial investigations revealed that a party was held on the beach on Sunday night, about 100 metres where the bodies were found.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Two-foreigners-brutally-murdered-on-Koh-Tao-30243300.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-15

[dabhand]

Sky news UK reporting that they were British tourists. No other details at the moment.

[Just1Voice]

Tragic.

[balo]

RIP so tragic. At least this time the police knows its a cold blooded murder and will do everything they can to catch them.

[angiud]

I cannot believe it

[Boater]

Young English woman found raped and murdered alongside the body of her male Irish friend on Thai beach

• Bodies discovered on a beach on the island of Koh Tao at about 5am today
• Woman had on only a bikini top while man to was 'hit on head with rock'
• Locals have blocked off beach to prevent others leaving the crime scene
• But fears growing that killer or killers may have already made their escape
• Couple thought to have been among 50 people attending tourist beach party

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2756102/Young-English-woman-raped-murdered-alongside-body-male-Irish-friend-Thai-beach.html#ixzz3DN6D9btF

[Baerboxer]

wow terrible news! from the more peaceful cousin of Koh Phangan. looks like the Meth has taken a firm grip of the locals there too now.

No evidence so far as to who committed this appalling crime.

Why assume it a local? Holiday island, many visitors.

[thhMan]

Why is the TAT getting involved?

It just shows that Thailand is worried about its Tourism.... It just makes the murder more sickening!

[a1falang]

At least there weren't called "farang" in the headline this time. ThaiVisa still has some class.

[OnTheRun]

ITV news now reporting a British woman and Irish man.

RIP, hopefully the perps are caught soonest and justice is swift.

[Traveller45]

I think it is about time now to think about some "self-protection squad" or another among expats. This cannot go on. Places are littered with dead and mutilated tourists. Resort by day, Amityville at night.

[Jim walker]

RPI and sincere condolences to both their families absolutely horrific murders So it is now becoming more apparent where not to go for your holidays if you want to have a safe carefree relaxing holiday with beautiful beaches Thailand is not the place to come to.

[StealthEnergiser]

RIP another sad story

[churchill]

Now reported in the Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/11096258/Two-British-tourists-found-dead-on-Thai-island-of-Koh-Tao.html

Terrible RIP

[robertthebruce]

How sad , what a death , poor poor people.... There families must be so distraught...

R.I.P.

They come for a lifetime holiday and go,home in a box......

Sends shudders down my spine, what they endured.....

[Bignose]

Yet another terrible tragedy for two innocent and blameless victims, it is beyond my comprehension what their families must be going through now.

Sincere and deep condolences to the friends and families of the two individuals.

Also good to see that all previous comments are thoughtful and sympathetic, something the families can take some small comfort from rather than the insensitive comments from previous threads.

Keep it up TV it's good to see...

[exalll]

If they are unidentified, how do they know they were both 24 years old?

[MobileContent]

This is very sad. I hope the rapist left some DNA to find him as soon as possible.