UK authorities demand inquiry into Briton’s death in Dubai
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UK authorities have demanded a full and open inquiry into the death of a British tourist in police custody in Dubai, who was reportedly ‘beaten to death’ by police officers.Reports filtering through to the family from fellow detainees in the notorious Bur Dubai police station claimed the victim, Lee Bradley Brown of Essex, was severely beaten by police officers, denied consular assistance and left to die in solitary confinement with little food and water and no medical assistance.Thirty-nine year old Brown, who was staying at the 7-star Burj Al Arab, was arrested by Dubai police on 6 April after reportedly threatening hotel staff, swearing and acting in an aggressive manner. He was found dead in his cell on 13 April, having choked on his own vomit, according to the official report released by Dubai’s Attorney General.Britain’s Consul General to the UAE, Guy Warrington, reportedly met with Dubai’s chief of police, Lt General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, several times to “stress the importance” of a full and open investigation into the death.UK officials have reportedly demanded access to the victim’s body to check for signs of physical abuse or torture.A Dubai police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the UK Daily Telegraph, reports of abuse and torture were a “total fabrication and distortion of the facts”.The source claimed Brown was vomiting in his cell the day before and the day of his death, but did not request medical assistance.”We never beat suspects in police custody,” the source claimed. “(His) case was very simple and he was cooperating with the interrogators.”Dubai authorities claimed blood and urine tests “revealed traces of hashish in the blood of the deceased”.Unsurprisingly, the incident threatens to create a serious backlash against Dubai in the UK, which remains one of the emirate’s largest tourism source markets.While DTCM director UK and Ireland Ian Scott declined to comment directly on the case, he told local trade dailies the government organisation planned to launch an online guide of do’s and don’ts in conjunction with the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office for UK tourists travelling to Dubai.”Dubai is one of the safest destinations in the world. Stories like this will create a sense of unease about the destination and it’s important we reassure agents and customers that this type of incident is very isolated,” he told Travel Weekly.”You can have a great time in Dubai and if you behave modestly and respect people you will be fine. There are 800,000 Brits who go to Dubai every year and 99% of them are not affected by this type of incident.”
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