Police investigating the murder of a British embassy worker feared to have been raped and strangled in Lebanon have arrested an Uber driver.

Rebecca Dykes’s body was found dumped on the side of a motorway on Saturday.

Security services investigating the murder told Reuters the suspect is driver for taxi hailing app Uber, who had a criminal record.

The driver, who was arrested on Monday morning, allegedly confessed to killing Ms Dykes and abandoning her body in the east of the capital, Lebanese state media reported.

It is believed Ms Dykes had been at a colleague's leaving party in the Gemmayzeh district of Beirut on Friday night.

Lebanese police traced the alleged killer after his car was picked up on traffic management CCTV cameras.

The victim, 30, was strangled with a rope and found dead by the side of a road in the east of the Beirut capital, police said.

An Uber spokesman said: “We are horrified by this senseless act of violence. Our hearts are with the victim and her family. We are working with authorities to assist their investigation in any way we can.”

The family of Ms Dykes, who was known as Becky, said they have been left "devastated" following her death, while embassy staff are said to be shocked.

A family spokesman said: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. We are doing all we can to understand what happened.

Ms Dykes was working as a programme and policy manager with the Department for International Development and as policy manager with the Libya team at the Foreign Office (FCO), according to her LinkedIn page.

She had previously worked as an Iraq Research Analyst with the FCO.

British Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter said: “The whole embassy is deeply shocked, saddened by this news.

“My thoughts are with Becky's family, friends and colleagues for their tragic loss. We're providing consular support to her family & working very closely with Lebanese authorities who are conducting police investigation.”

A Department for International Development spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with Becky’s family and friends at this very upsetting time.

“There is now a police investigation and the FCO is providing consular support to Becky’s family and working with the local authorities.”

The Foreign Office said it was in contact with the Lebanese authorities.

“Following the death of a British woman in Beirut, we are providing support to the family," a spokesman said. “We remain in close contact with local authorities. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.” (London Evening Standard)

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