Island On Lockdown After Gruesome Murder of British Tourists

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

SURAT THANI — Police say they have closed down all piers on the island of Koh Tao as they search for a suspect behind the brutal murder of two British tourists on the island.

The 24-year-old man and the 23-year-old woman were found dead on Sairee Beach early this morning. The female tourist was partially naked and "slashed" to death, police said, while the naked male tourist had a serious wound on the back of his neck.

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

Khaosod English is witholding the identities of the victims until it's confirmed that their families have been notified. 

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The two bodies were found 20 metres apart from each other, and approximately 30 metres away from a beachside resort. A bloody hoe was also found in the area, leading police to suspect that it was the weapon used in the gruesome murders.

Police say that they have closed down all piers on the island to prevent the suspect from fleeing the area.

"I believe the perpetrator is still on the island," said Pol.Maj.Gen. Kiattipong Khaosam-ang, a commander of Surat Thani police.

Witnesses said they saw the British tourists drinking and dancing with other party-goers on the beach in front of their resort on the previous night. The pair then left the party, presumably to take a stroll, witnesses said.

According to Pol.Maj.Gen. Kiattipong, the man arrived in Thailand with "2-3" male friends while the woman came with four female friends. They met at Ocean View Bungalow, where they were both staying, the officer said. 

The bodies were found at around 6:20 am by a group of Burmese workers who were cleaning the beach, Pol.Maj.Gen. Kiattipong said.

A friend of the male victim, who also had wounds on his body, was initially being considered as a suspect in the case, but police say he has been cleared after it was established that his injuries date back to a recent Full Moon Party.

CORRECTION: The female victim's age is 23, not 24 as was originally reported.

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