British diplomat Rebecca Dykes found 'strangled' in Lebanon The body of Rebecca Dykes, who worked on a military aid programme, was found next to a road in Beirut, say local media reports.

Image: The Foreign Office is in contact with Lebanese authorities over Rebecca Dykes' death

Police in Lebanon have launched a murder investigation after a British embassy worker was found strangled by the side of a road.

A forensic official in the country has told the Associated Press news agency that Rebecca Dykes, who worked at the embassy in the capital Beirut, was strangled with a rope.

The unnamed official added that authorities are investigating the exact cause of the 30-year-old's death and whether she was sexually assaulted.

A security official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told AP Ms Dykes' body was discovered by the side of the Metn highway, east of Beirut, on Saturday.

According to Lebanese media reports, choke marks were found on her neck and she had been raped.


Image: Ms Dykes was due to fly home for Christmas on Saturday, friends said

Sky's Adele Robinson says local media reported that Ms Dykes had been out in the Gemmayzeh area of Beirut on Friday night with work colleagues, and left a bar on her own at around midnight.

A family spokesman said they were "devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca".

"We are doing all we can to understand what happened," he added.

:: Who was murdered UK diplomat Rebecca Dykes?

According to Ms Dykes' LinkedIn profile, she had been working as a programme and policy manager for the Department for International Development (DfID) on the UK government's Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) programme in Lebanon.

Friends said she had been due to fly home for Christmas on Saturday.

A DfID spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with Becky's family and friends at this very upsetting time.

Image: Ms Dykes' body was found by the side of the Metn highway, several miles from the Gemmayzeh district where she had enjoyed an evening with colleagues

"There is now a police investigation and the FCO (Foreign Office) is providing consular support to Becky's family and working with the local authorities."

The Foreign Office has said it is in contact with authorities in Lebanon.

"Following the death of a British woman in Beirut, we are providing support to the family," a spokesman said.

"We remain in close contact with local authorities. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time."

The British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hugo Shorter, tweeted his condolences saying the whole embassy was "deeply shocked" and "saddened".

He said the embassy was "working closely with Lebanese authorities who are conducting police investigation".

Under Lebanon's CSSF programme, the UK Government has spent millions of pounds supporting the country's armed forces to address "security threats originating from Syria".

Cash has also been spent on preventing "illegal cross border activity" between Lebanon and Syria - an area where jihadists have been active - and assisting local policing.

Another official told the AFP news agency the killing did not appear to be politically motivated.

"Our first impression is that it's not politically motivated," the official, who is involved in the investigation, told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Josie Ensore, the Daily Telegraph's Middle East Correspondent based in Beirut, told Sky News: "It is extremely rare for any sort of foreigner to be attacked and there is very low-level crime in Beirut... I feel safer here than in London or New York, walking home or being alone.

"I think that's why the British and American communities are very shocked about what's happened because it really is a very rare thing to happen."