Retired colonel shot dead in Kenya

A retired British Army colonel has been shot and killed during a robbery on holiday in Kenya, his family said.

Colonel Edward Loden, who received the Military Cross (MC) for his actions during the Aden Emergency in 1967, was attacked on Saturday night at his son's home in the capital Nairobi.

Born in 1940, he was commissioned into the Parachute Regiment in 1959 where he served on operations around the world.

Col Loden was awarded the MC for service in Aden, a small area in the south of the Arabian Peninsula which Britain were forced to withdraw from after attacks by nationalists.

He retired from the Army in 1992 and followed a career in business management, before retiring in 1999 to pursue his passion for sailing.

His family said in a statement: "A retired British Army colonel, Edward Loden, was shot and killed during a robbery at his son's home in Langata, Nairobi, shortly after returning from dinner on Saturday evening, September 7, whilst he was on holiday visiting his son and family.

"Nobody else was injured in the attack which took place when a group of armed men forced their way into the compound."

The statement added: "Edward, married to Jill, father of Jamie and Will, was a devoted family man and proud grandfather of Oliver, Amelia, Joshua, Harry and Emily.

"Jill and her sons would like to say thank you to all the overwhelming messages of love and support from wider friends and family, and request that the family be given time to come to terms with this brutal tragedy."