The saddest homecoming: Eight victims of beach massacre return to the UK on an RAF jet as Tunisian officials say 30 Britons have now been formally identified
- Eight of the 27 British victims of the Tunisian beach massacre arrived home today after being flown back to the UK
- Their bodies were flown 2,000 miles from Tunisia to Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, by a C-17 RAF Globemaster aircraft
- It has now been confirmed by the Foreign Office that the British death toll has risen to 27. It is expected to reach 30
- The RAF repatriation operation to bring home the rest of the British victims is expected to take a number of days
- The bodies will be released to their bereaved families as soon as possible after the post-mortem examinations
Eight British victims of the Tunisian beach massacre have made their heartbreaking final journey home.
The bodies of Adrian Evans, Patrick Evans, Joel Richards, Carly Lovett, Stephen Mellor, John Stollery, and Denis and Elaine Thwaites were flown back to the UK today.
When the plane landed at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire relatives of those on board wept and comforted each other.
All but one of the 30 Britons shot dead by student Seifeddine Rezgui, 23, at the beach resort of Sousse on Friday have been formally identified, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said today.
Tunisian officials today said all 38 victims had been formally identified. Of the remaining victims, three were from Ireland, two from Germany and one each from Belgium, Portugal and Russia, the Tunisian health ministry said.
Scroll down for video
British soldiers of the Queens Colour Squadron carry a coffin into the cargo bay of a C-17 Globemaster aircraft before its departure from Tunis
Procession: Police led a cortege of eight hearses as coffins containing the bodies of the British tourists were driven from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire
The saddest homecoming: Eight British victims of the Tunisian beach massacre made their heartbreaking final journey home today
The bodies of Adrian Evans, Patrick Evans, Joel Richards, Carly Lovett, Stephen Mellor, John Stollery, and Denis and Elaine Thwaites were flown back to the UK this afternoon
A statement issued on behalf of Suzanne Richards for the Evans and Richards families said: 'We are a very small and normal family, but nothing will ever be normal again.'
Adrian Evans, 49, (pictured left) and his nephew Joel Richards, 19, (right) were killed in the Tunisian beach massacre. Their bodies were flown back to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire today
Joel's grandfather and Adrian's father Patrick Evans, 78, who was also killed by student Seifeddine Rezgui, 23, has been flown home too
Eight victims were flown home today. They included the bodies of Carly Lovett, 24, (pictured left) and Elaine and Denis Thwaites (right)
Heartbreaking: The bodies of Stephen Mellor (pictured on his wedding day with wife Cheryl) and John Stollery (right) have also been repatriated. Bereaved relatives were waiting for their loved ones at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire
The coffin of Joel Richards, one of the victims of the Tunisian beach massacre, is carried from the aircraft at RAF Brize Norton near Oxford
When the plane landed at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire relatives of those on board wept and comforted each other
A statement issued on behalf of Suzanne Richards for the Evans and Richards families said: 'We are a very small and normal family, but nothing will ever be normal again.
'My son Joel, dad Pat and brother Adrian were our rocks and we are all heartbroken and devastated and will never get over losing them.
Joel's 16-year-old brother Owen survived the attack.
Ms Richards said the holiday was intended to be a celebration and had only just begun.
She said: 'The "jolly boys outing" as they called it, was to celebrate Joel finishing his 2nd year at University with high grades and Owen finishing his GCSEs.
Eight hearses, carrying the bodies of some of the British tourists killed in Tunisia, leave RAF Brize Norton and travel through the town of Carterton in Oxfordshire
Solemn: The eight hearses travelled through Oxfordshire with a police escort after leaving Brize Norton today. A Walsall football club scarf was rested on one of the coffins (pictured above)
The bodies arrived at RAF Brize Norton nwhere white-gloved pall-bearers in Royal Air Force uniforms linked arms to carry each coffin to a hearse waiting near the runway
A police motorbike led the cortege of eight hearses as they made their way along the A40, having left RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire
All but one of the 30 Britons believed killed in the Tunisian beach massacre have been formally identified, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said after the first bodies were repatriated to the UK
'Their holiday lasted less than 24 hours and their futures and lives ended tragically.
'We would like to say how overwhelmed we are with everyone's tributes, flowers, cards and generosity. They were pure diamonds and will never be forgotten.
'As a nation we must fight this evil together and smile for Joel, Ade and Pat.'
A makeshift shrine to the three men has built up outside Walsall FC's Banks's Stadium, where two of them were season ticket-holders.
Tributes to Joel have also been placed at the main entrance to the University of Worcester, where he had recently completed the second year of his Physical Education and Sports Coaching Science degree.
The former pupil of St Mary's Catholic Primary in Wednesbury went back to his old school regularly to coach soccer and Gaelic football.
The RAF Queen's Colour Squadron moved the coffins into hearses to be transported to the West London coroner's offfice in Fulham where they will formally be released for burial
A coffin for one of the 27 Britons killed in the Tunisian beach massacre is carried to a waiting hearse at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire
A hearse is pictured transporting one of the coffins to the West London coroner's offfice in Fulham, where the bodies of those killed will formally be released for burial
The RAF C17 aircraft was pictured landing this afternoon. Those repatriated today were Adrian Evans, Patrick Evans, Joel Richards, Carly Lovett, Stephen Mellor, John Stollery, and Denis and Elaine Thwaites
The final journey: When the plane landed at RAF Brize Norton relatives of those on board wept and comforted each other
Speaking earlier this week, Kathryn Hill, the headteacher of St Mary's, said: 'Joel was an intelligent, vibrant and compassionate young man who had the world at his feet and everything to live for. The staff at St Mary's are heartbroken at the tragic loss of his life and the lives of his uncle and grandfather.
'We would like to offer our prayers and sympathy to his parents, grandmother and brother.'
One by one, the coffins were loaded on to a C-17 RAF Globemaster in Tunis this morning before making the 2,000 mile flight back to Britain.
The RAF Queen's Colour Squadron then moved the coffins into hearses to be transported to the West London coroner's office in Fulham where senior coroner Chinyere Inyama will assume jurisdiction.
The relatives of those killed will be at the centre of the process, chief coroner for England and Wales His Honour Judge Peter Thornton QC said.
He added that the bodies will be released to their bereaved families as soon as possible after post-mortem examinations have been carried out.
'The bereaved families of those who died in Tunisia will be at the heart of this investigation process,' Mr Thornton said. 'The utmost consideration will be given to these families throughout this process.'
CT scans will be conducted as part of post-mortem examinations in order to establish the precise cause of death.
Full military respect: Borne on the shoulders of their Royal Air Force pallbearers, victims of the Tunisian beach massacre began their final journey home from Tunis Carthage airport this morning
Flown back to the UK: One by one, eight coffins were loaded on to a C-17 RAF Globemaster in Tunis (pictured)
Wearing grey uniform with a white belt, the RAF personnel carefully lifted the coffins out of ambulances and into the back of the aircraft
Flown home: The RAF C17 aircraft had left the UK at 2am and arrived at Tunis Carthage airport just before dawn in readiness for the journey home
There was no ceremony at Carthage airport, but the victims were afforded full military respect as they were borne with dignified silence on to the plane for the 2,000 mile flight back to the UK
Mr Thornton added: 'Thereafter he (Mr Inyama) will release the bodies to the families for burial or cremation as soon as is reasonably practicable.
'No doubt he will work towards as early a release as possible in each case.'
While there will be an inquest for each of those killed they will likely be held together 'in view of the circumstances of the killings', Mr Thornton said.
There was no ceremony in the distant corner of Carthage airport in Tunisia when the victims began their journey home, but they were afforded full military respect as they were borne with dignified silence on to the plane.
Wearing grey uniform with a white belt, the RAF personnel carefully lifted the coffins out of ambulances and into the back of the aircraft.
It had left the UK at 2am and arrived at Tunis Carthage airport just before dawn in readiness for the journey home.
Mr Stollery, 58, a social worker from Nottinghamshire, was on holiday with his wife Cheryl, Mr Thwaites was a former Birmingham City football player, and engineer Mr Mellor, from Bodmin in Cornwall, was killed as he shielded his wife on the beach.
Patrick Evans, also known as Charles, 78, was in Tunisia with his son Adrian and his 19-year-old grandson Joel. Adrian worked as a manager in a gas services department, while Joel was a talented football referee.
Ms Lovett was a 24-year-old fashion blogger from Lincolnshire.
At Prime Minister's Questions, David Cameron said the number of confirmed Britons killed in the attack had reached 27. ‘We do expect it to rise still further,’ he added.
A convoy of four ambulances carried the bodies of eight Britons shot dead by student Seifeddine Rezgui, 23
The ambulances carrying the victims of last Friday's terrorist attack arrived at Tunis Airport to be flown home
Take off: The RAF C17 with the bodies of eight Britons on board takes off from Tunis Airport bound for the UK
He told the Commons he was looking at creating a ministerial committee to co-ordinate work across Government 'to provide all the support that the victims of this appalling attack deserve and also to make sure that, as a nation, we mark and commemorate this event appropriately'.
All wounded Britons have been brought back to the UK, with four severely injured holidaymakers flown home in an RAF C17 transport plane accompanied by 'medevac' teams.
They are being treated at hospitals in Birmingham, Oxford, Plymouth and London.
Among the four is Allison Heathcote, 48, from Felixstowe, Suffolk, who was celebrating her 30th wedding anniversary when she was gunned down.
She was shot repeatedly in her stomach and shoulder and was pictured shortly after the attack in her pink bikini lying immobile on a sun lounger as hotel staff tended to her wounds.
Killed: Christopher and Sharon Bell, from Leeds, were among those shot dead by the 23-year-old gunman Seifeddine Rezgui, it has been confirmed this morning. Their deaths take the British death toll to 27
Flown home: All wounded Britons have been brought back to the UK, with four severely injured holidaymakers flown home in an RAF C17 transport plane accompanied by 'medevac' teams
In hospital: The injured Britons are being treated at hospitals in Birmingham, Oxford, Plymouth and London
Her husband Philip, 52, was killed in the terror attack. She has undergone surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where she is in a critical condition.
A single inquest covering all the British dead is to be opened by the West London coroner.
The latest victims to be named include James and Ann McQuire from Cumbernauld, and Billy and Lisa Graham from Bankfoot, near Perth, who were visiting the resort to celebrate Mrs Graham's 50th birthday.
The family of Janet and John Stocker, aged 63 and 74, confirmed 'with regret and great sadness' that the 'happiest, most loving' couple died in the Tunisia shootings, as did the family of Christopher and Sharon Bell, from Leeds.
On drugs: It has been revealed that 23-year-old gunman Seifeddine Rezgui (pictured) was high on cocaine as he murdered British tourists on the north African beach
Killer: Rezgui, 23, pictured carrying his assault rifle down the beach, killed at least 28 Britons and injured dozens of others in his 25-minute rampage
Dead | Missing | Injured | |
---|---|---|---|
BRITISH | IRISH | ||
Carly Lovett, 24 | Lorna Carty, 50s | Ray Fisher, 75 | Christine Callaghan, 62 |
Adrian Evans, 49 | Laurence Hayes, 50s | Angela Fisher, 69 | Tony Callaghan, 52 |
Joel Richards, 19 | Marina Hayes, 50s | Mathew James, 30 | |
Patrick Evans, 78 | Ross Thompson, 21 | ||
Suzanne Davy, 44 | EUROPE | Rebecca Smith, 22 | |
Scott Chalkley, 42 | Lana Lemaire, Belgium | Cheryl Mellor, 55 | |
Bruce Wilkinson, 72 | Owen Richards, 16 | ||
Lisa Burbidge, 66 | Allison Heathcote, 48 | ||
Ann McQuire, 63 | Tom Richards, 22 | ||
James McQuire, 66 | |||
Claire Windass, 54 | |||
Trudy Jones, 51 | |||
Stephen Mellor, 59 | |||
Stuart Cullen, 52 | |||
Christopher Bell | |||
Sharon Bell | |||
John Stocker, 74 | |||
Janet Stocker, 63 | |||
Billy Graham, 51 | |||
Lisa Graham, 50 | |||
John Stollery, 58 | |||
John Welch, 74 | |||
Eileen Swannack, 70 | |||
David Thompson, 80 | |||
Denis Thwaites, 70 | |||
Elaine Thwaites, 69 | |||
Philip Heathcote, 52 | |||
Chris Dyer, 32 |
In a statement issued through West Yorkshire Police, the Bells' family said: 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of both mum Sharon and dad Christopher who were taken from us during the terrorist attacks in Tunisia.
'Currently we have very little information surrounding the circumstances of the tragedy and we are working with the authorities to gather as much information as possible.'
Rafikhe Tayari, an alleged accomplice of the crazed Tunisian gunman who shot 38 innocent tourists dead, is trying to smuggle himself into Europe
Meanwhile, it emerged today that Rezgui was high on cocaine as he murdered British tourists on the beach.
A stimulant, believed to the class A drug or one similar to it, was detected by doctors during a post-mortem examination, the Daily Mail has been told.
Tunisian authorities are questioning several suspected associates of Rezgui, who had links to the terror group Islamic State.
They have said he acted alone during the rampage but had accomplices who supported him before, providing him with weapons and logistical support.
One alleged accomplice is trying to smuggle himself into Europe, his family said.
Rafikhe Tayari, who has been described by police as dangerous, is thought to have assisted Seifeddine Rezgui carry out the massacre in Sousse on Friday.
The 28-year-old's family have now revealed he is in Libya seeking a migrant boat across the Mediterranean. He is being hunted along with another suspect, Mohamed bin Abdallah.
Tunisian president Beji Caid Essebsi said an investigation was under way into security failures and there would be armed tourist police on beaches.
A minute's silence will be held in memory of the victims at noon on Friday, a week on from the massacre. Flags are expected to be flown at half-mast over government departments and Buckingham Palace.
A group understood to be relatives of some of the British dead were among scores of people, local and European, who left flowers and messages at the memorials to the victims on the beach at Sousse yesterday.
The group, escorted by security guards, left bouquets with a message saying: 'Taken too soon, missed by so many, always in our thoughts, lots of love, Denise, Paul, Mark, Kelly, Lee.'
Armed police continued to patrol the beach in front of the five-star hotels, which are now almost empty at what should be a peak part of the tourist season.
Nick Longman, managing director of Thomson and First Choice, confirmed that 22 British people positively identified as victims were customers of the tour operators.
A key strand of the Government's strategy to counter extremism is coming into force today. New legislation passed earlier this year places a statutory duty on bodies including prisons, schools and universities to prevent radicalisation.
Police, soldiers, emergency services and intelligence officials also took part in London's largest counter-terrorism exercise, an operation organised before Friday's terror attack.
Most watched News videos
- Incredible drone footage of Charmouth Beach following the rockfall
- Brits 'trapped' in Dubai share horrible weather experience
- Crowd chants 'bring him out' outside church where stabber being held
- 'He paid the mob to whack her': Audio reveals OJ ordered wife's death
- Murder suspects dragged into cop van after 'burnt body' discovered
- Shocking scenes at Dubai airport after flood strands passengers
- English cargo ship captain accuses French of 'illegal trafficking'
- 'Inhumane' woman wheels CORPSE into bank to get loan 'signed off'
- Chaos in Dubai morning after over year and half's worth of rain fell
- Shocking moment school volunteer upskirts a woman at Target
- Prince Harry makes surprise video appearance from his Montecito home
- Appalling moment student slaps woman teacher twice across the face
Well done to the RAF, for giving dignity to a terr...
by Wulfrunwoman 2343