British tourists abducted, guard killed in Congo park ambush

August 30, 2010: A bullet riddled sign marks the entrance to Virunga National Park, occupied by rebels and other armed militias during years of conflict near Goma in eastern Congo. (Reuters)

A Congo park spokesman says one guard has been killed and two British tourists and their driver have been abducted in Virunga National Park.

Joel Wengamulay, spokesman for the Congolese Institute for The Conservation of Nature, told the U.N.-backed Radio Okapi that the kidnapping occurred Friday in the Nyiragongo territory just north of Goma.

He says their vehicle was ambushed while bringing the British tourists from Kibumba to Goma.

Wengamulay says investigations into the attack have begun. Eastern Congo is home to multiple armed groups.

Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office says it is in contact with Congolese authorities following an incident involving two British nationals. It did not give details.