Policeman Kills Wife, Tourists In Tangiers

An off-duty policeman shot and killed his wife in a Tangiers hotel, then fired randomly at tourists, killing a British couple, police said Saturday.

The man, dressed in civilian clothes, walked into the Tarik Hotel late Friday, fatally shot his wife and wounded his brother-in-law, a police spokesman said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He then fired randomly at tourists, killing Martin and Margaret Gower, a couple in their 60’s from England. Two other Britons, including a 12-year-old girl, were wounded, but their lives were not in danger, the spokesman said.

The British Foreign Office said it did not believe the Gowers were singled out as British or as tourists or that the hotel was targeted.