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He caused widespread controversy when, according to The Daily Telegraph, he added: “Can they be safe in bikinis… unless they are not beautiful?”

On Thursday, however, he backtracked.

“I apologize that I have spoken too harshly … I didn’t mean to criticize or look down on anyone. Today I can guarantee that Thailand is still safe … I wanted to warn [the tourists] to be careful,” he said. “I’m sorry that it hurt people.”

Although Thailand is infamous worldwide as a freewheeling hub of sex tourism, its culture is fairly conservative with many Thai women preferring to don shorts rather than bikinis on the beach.

The killings of the two Britons remain unsolved and no arrests have been made.

Police in Thailand released autopsy results Wednesday. Maj. Gen. Pornchai Suteerakune said 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge had died from head wounds while 24-year-old David Miller had suffered severe blows to the head and drowned in the surf.

Pornchai said Miller also had wounds on his hand, indicating a struggle had taken place.

Both had deep wounds and gashes to the head and face that police believe were inflicted by a bloodied hoe found near the bodies.

Police have failed to match DNA collected at the crime scene to samples taken from several suspects who were in the area at the time of the killings.

Authorities have made no arrests so far but are hoping to match the samples with DNA evidence collected from the corpses.

The pair travelled to Koh Tao with friends and met each other on the island while staying in neighbouring rooms at Ocean View Bungalows, said police Maj. Gen. Kiattipong Khawsamang.