STUDENTS at King's School in Canterbury have sent a message of sympathy to fellow pupil Thomas Short whose father was killed in the suicide bomb attacks in Istanbul.

Thomas, 15, a boarder at the school, is the only son of the UK's Consul General in Istanbul, Roger Short.

Mr Short was killed on Thursday in blasts that targeted Turkey's British consulate and the HSBC bank headquarters. A spokesperson for King's said: "On Friday and over the weekend we were saying prayers and holding special services in memory of Mr Short and for Thomas."

Thomas flew to Istanbul after the tragedy to be with his mother and two sisters, Elizabeth and Katherine. Mr Short was one of 27 people, including his personal assistant, Lisa Hallworth who died in the suicide bombings.

The King's School spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with the family. We have been in contact with the family, although we do not know at this stage when Thomas will be coming back to school."