British tour operators were evacuating hundreds of holidaymakers from Kenya on Friday, after the Foreign Office in London said there was a high threat from terrorism in the country, including kidnapping.

Package-holiday companies Thomson and First Choice said they were flying back holidaymakers as a “precautionary measure” and had cancelled all flights to Mombasa until the end of October.

“Thomson and First Choice have been continuously monitoring the situation as it developed and have been working very closely with the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and follow its advice at all times,” the companies said in a statement.

A couple of planes chartered by Thomson were scheduled to take off Friday from Mombasa’s Moi International Airport, an official told Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper.

“There are two planes chartered to take the British tourists back to the UK,” the official was quoted as saying.

More than 330 tourists already left Kenya on Thursday, he added.

Luxury holiday firm Kuoni also said it was not offering holidays to the Kenyan coast at present because of the FCO advice.

The Foreign Office advised against all travel to areas within 60 kilometres of the Somali border, visiting slum areas and townships in Nairobi, Mombasa Island -- where part of the city of Mombasa lies -- Garissa District, Kiwayu and coastal areas north of Pate Island.

“The main threat comes from extremists linked to al-Shabaab, a militant group that has carried out attacks in Kenya in response to Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia,” the Foreign Office said.

The death of a prominent cleric at the beginning of April had caused heightened tensions in Mombasa, the statement added, and advised tourists to follow the local news and avoid large crowds and demonstrations.

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