Police investigate murder of British diplomat in Beirut
A BRITISH diplomat who worked for the embassy in Beirut has been found dead after being “raped and strangled”.
Rebecca Dykes, 30, had been drinking with colleagues at a bar for a leaving do.
She is thought to have been thrown from a car as her body was found at the side of a motorway in the Lebanese capital.
Police are investigating the murder. Initial reports suggested she had been sexually assaulted and strangled with a rope, as she had “choke marks” on her neck.
Ms Dykes worked for the Department for International Development (DfID) as programme and policy manager.
She is thought to have left the Gemmayzeh bar alone shortly after midnight on Friday and was abducted some time later.
Her body was found “thrown from a car” several miles away, without any identity papers.
Early forensic reports suggested she had died around 4am on Saturday morning.
It is understood a first postmortem examination revealed the cause of death as strangulation. However, a second examination is due to be carried out.
One friend in Beirut yesterday said: “It’s horrific. We had no idea what happened to her until we got a call today to go to the police station to give statements.”
Ms Dykes, a University of Manchester graduate, spoke four languages having attended two of Britain’s top independent schools before taking two university degrees.
A family spokesman said yesterday: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. We are doing all we can to understand what happened. We ask the media respect our privacy as we come together as a family at this very difficult time.”
Hugo Shorter, British Ambassador to Lebanon, added: “The whole embassy is deeply shocked and saddened by this news.
“My thoughts are with Becky’s family, friends and colleagues for their tragic loss.
“We’re providing consular support to her family and working very closely with Lebanese authorities who are conducting police investigation.”
And a DfID spokesman added: “Our thoughts are with Becky’s family and friends at this very upsetting time.”
The Foreign Office said it was in contact with the Lebanese authorities.
Shocking
Her body was transferred to the Dahr al-Bashak Hospital for the post-mortem examination.
According to her social media profile, Ms Dykes was a pupil at Malvern Girls’ College in Worcestershire before attending the sixth form of Rugby School in Warwickshire.
She received a degree in social anthropology from the University of Manchester before studying for a master’s degree in International Security and Global Governance at Birkbeck, University of London.
She taught English overseas before working in Iraq for DfID and then quickly rising through the ranks at the Foreign Office to become policy manager for its Libya team.
She had previously worked as an Iraq Research Analyst with the Foreign Office.
A Lebanese official involved in the investigation said it did not appear the murder was “politically motivated”.
British journalist Josie Ensor, who is based in Beirut, said: “My thoughts are with her family. This is a very rare and shocking thing to happen in this city.
“She had been out celebrating with friends at a bar in Gemmayzeh.
“Beirut has always felt like a very safe place, much safer than London or other big cities I’ve lived in.
“It is sad to say, but it is important for women not to be complacent, wherever they are or however safe it might feel.”