Bali killing: British man, Australian woman arrested

Briton David Taylor is escorted by police in Bali, Indonesia

A British man and an Australian woman have been arrested in connection with the beach killing of a policeman on the Indonesian island of Bali.

They have been named by police as David Taylor and Sara Connor.

The body of local traffic police officer Wayan Sudarsa was found on Wednesday, lying on a beach at Kuta.

A spokeswoman for the UK Foreign Office confirmed it was "providing assistance to a British national who was arrested in Bali".

The pair were reportedly arrested as they sought protection at the Australian consulate in Denpasar, Bali's capital.

Australian Sara Connor wears a sarong over her head just after her arrest

Statements from nine witnesses led to the arrests, said Bali Police Chief Major General Sugeng Priyanto.

Beach death

Mr Sudarsa's bloodied body was found on the beach outside the Pullman hotel in Kuta, Bali's most popular beach resort. Police said the officer had deep wounds to his head.

A spokeswoman for the UK Foreign Office told the BBC that as well as providing assistance to a British national it was staying in contact with the local authorities.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the department was "providing consular assistance to an Australian woman in Bali".

Bali is a popular Western tourist destination, known for its tropical climate and palm-fringed beaches. Petty crime is common on the island, though more serious crime is rare.