Briton shot dead in Libya named as energy worker Mark De Salis

Energy worker Mr De Salis was killed alongside a female from New Zealand

Mr De Salis's family said they are 'shocked and devastated' by his killing, in a statement released through the Foreign Office (PA)

A British man who was shot dead in Libya has been named by the UK Foreign Office as energy worker Mark De Salis.

His family said they are "shocked and devastated" by his killing, in a statement released through the Foreign Office.

Mr De Salis and a woman from New Zealand, who were described as close friends by his family, were shot dead near the coastal area of Mellitah in the west of the country, according to a Libyan security source.

The woman's name has not yet been released.

He had been working in Tripoli in Libya for six years. He worked for First Engineering and was currently employed as a power manager bringing generators to Tripoli to provide electricity.

A Foreign Office statement released yesterday said it was "deeply saddened by the murder of a British national and New Zealander in Libya", and called for an investigation into the murders by the Libyan government.

"Our Chargé d’Affaires has raised the shooting with the Libyan authorities and we are liaising closely with them on follow-up", the statement said.

"We call upon the Libyan Government to carry out a thorough investigation in to this tragic incident and to continue to do all it can to bring to justice the perpetrators of this appalling crime, as it strives to build strong rule of law in Libya."

Read more:

Additional reporting by Press Association