More Than 400 Britons Killed Overseas Since 2010

More Than 400 Britons Killed Overseas Since 2010

An increasing number of Britons have been killed overseas, official figures suggest, with more than 400 deaths since 2010.

The Tunisian terror attack, in which 30 British nationals died, also means 2015 could be the bloodiest recorded in recent years by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

The department said it has provided assistance in 67 cases recorded as murder and manslaughter this year, which includes last month's gun attack in the beach resort of Sousse.

Travel advice to Tunisia was changed after the atrocity, resulting in British tourists being advised to return to the UK as a terrorist attack was judged to be "highly likely".

The FCO said the deaths in 2015 have taken place in 22 countries, including Afghanistan, Brazil, Denmark, South Sudan and the USA.

In 2010, FCO officials were involved in 46 cases, 70 in 2011, 59 in 2012, 76 in 2013 and 89 in 2014.

The department established a new unit focused on murder and manslaughter cases in January after a review into the support provided to bereaved families and friends was conducted last year.

The data, which represents the number of killings which have come to the FCO's attention rather than all overseas deaths, emerged in Parliament after Labour MP Alex Cunningham submitted a written question.

He asked Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond: "How many British nationals were murdered abroad in each year since 2010 and in which countries those deaths took place?"

In reply, Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood said: "The Foreign and Commonwealth Office only captures information about cases that come to our attention, rather than holding definitive information on the total number of UK nationals who are victims of murder and manslaughter overseas."

After listing the cases per year, he added: "In January 2015, the FCO established a new dedicated team to lead on murder and manslaughter cases.

"These cases have occurred throughout the world in the past five years.

"Since January, deaths have occurred in Afghanistan, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, USA, and Zambia."

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