British diplomat Rebecca Dykes, working at the UK embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, was found dead along the side of a road early Saturday morning.
Authorities are saying Dykes was murdered after finding her dead body tossed to the side of a major roadway over the weekend. It is believed Dykes had been at a party on Friday night and left by herself around midnight. The woman’s body was found alongside the Metn highway. Forensics suggests she died at 4:00 am Saturday morning.
British ambassador Hugo Shorter issued the following statement.
The whole embassy is deeply shocked, 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 & working very closely with Lebanese authorities who are conducting police investigation.
— Hugo Shorter (@HugoShorter) December 17, 2017
Dykes had graduated from the University of Manchester and had a masters in international security and global governance from Birkbeck, University of London.
She was working as a program and policy manager with the UK’s Department for International Development and as a policy manager with the Libya team at the UK’s Foreign Office.
According to the Independent, spokesmen for both these departments issued statements on her death.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office confirmed Ms Dykes' death and said they were providing support to the family.
She said: "Following the death of a British woman in Beirut, we are providing support to the family. We remain in close contact with local authorities. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time."
A Department for International Development spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with Becky's family and friends at this very upsetting time.
"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."
There are no known suspects at this time.