Police ‘detain hostel owner’ at ‘methanol poisoning’ center in Laos after five backpackers, including a British lawyer (28), died from ‘drinking poisonous shots’

The owner of the hostel at the center of alleged methanol poisoning in Laos, which led to the deaths of five people, has reportedly been arrested by police.

British lawyer Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, died yesterday after falling ill with more than a dozen others in the popular backpacker town of Vang Vieng.

She became the fifth person to die after drinking free shots believed to be laced with methanol on November 12. It is believed that at least eleven people remain in hospital.

Australian Bianca Jones, 19, two Danish women in their 20s and a US citizen had already died from methanol poisoning.

Mrs White, Mrs Jones and her friend Holly Bowles all stayed at the Nana Backpacjers Hostel, where they were given free shots of spirits.

Now the owner of the hostel has been arrested by local police, ABC News reports.

But staff previously vehemently denied that the shots at their bar were responsible for the mass poisoning.

Ms White was a lawyer based in London, specializing in intellectual property and technology at US law firm Squire Patton Boggs.

Simone White, 28, from Orpington in Kent, is the fifth tourist to die after falling ill last week

Hostel manager and bartender Duong Duc Toan (pictured) claims it wasn’t his Tiger Vodka that made tourists sick

Bianca Jones, 19, from Melbourne, sadly died after consuming so-called ‘methanol-laced’ drinks in Vang Vieng, Laos

Australian Holly Bowles (pictured), 19, was on holiday with her school friend in popular backpacking destination Vang Vieng

After completing her A-levels at St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington, she studied law at Newcastle University before taking the accelerated course at BPP Law School.

Ms White’s friend Bethany Clarke, a health worker also from Orpington, took to the Laos Backpacking Facebook group to warn other travellers.

She said: ‘Urgent – ​​please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars. Just avoid them, it’s not worth it. Six of us who drank in the same place are currently in hospital with methanol poisoning.”

Hostel manager and barman Duong Duc Toan, who served shots to Ms Jones – who is in a critical condition in hospital – and Ms Bowles, denied it was his Tiger Vodka that made the girls ill.

He claims he only buys alcohol from legitimate sellers and even drinks from a bottle he drank himself to “prove it was safe.”

Toan said the free shots were offered to about 100 guests and said there were no other complaints.

The best friends were on a “dream vacation” gap year trip through Southeast Asia when authorities suspected they drank poisoned drinks that allegedly contained shots of “vodka” tainted with methanol.

Methanol can sometimes find its way into alcoholic beverages in Southeast Asia as a cheaper, counterfeit alternative to ethanol.

Staff became concerned after they failed to check out on November 13 and arranged to take the pair to hospital after they ‘calmly’ asked for help.

CCTV footage from the hostel shows one of the girls being taken to hospital on the back of a moped before being sent across the border into Thailand.

Ms Jones was the fourth person to die after consuming so-called ‘methanol-laced’ drinks in Vang Vieng, Laos

Ms White’s friend Bethany Clarke, a health worker also from Orpington, took to the Laos Backpacking Facebook group to warn other travelers

Staff at Nana Backpackers Hostel have been questioned by police who have demanded that bottles of liquor be served on the night the poisoning occurred

Tourists kayak in Laos’ party town of Vang Vieng, where five people have died from suspected methanol poisoning

The Foreign Office has issued guidance to Britons traveling to the country, warning them against consuming replica alcohol brands that may contain hidden levels of methanol.

It says travelers are warned against consuming replica alcohol brands that may contain hidden amounts of methanol.

The latest advice reads: ‘Both male and female tourists have reported having their drinks or food spiked with drugs and in some cases assaulted.

‘Never leave food and drinks unattended.

‘Be careful about accepting drinks from strangers in bars, clubs, restaurants and at parties.’

The foreign officer confirmed on Thursday that it was supporting Ms White’s family.

Asked about media reports, the Danish Foreign Ministry said that “two Danish nationals have died in Laos” but could not provide details on “reasons of confidentiality in personal matters.”

The US State Department also confirmed the death of a US citizen, 56 years old.

Ms Jones’ parents, who live in Australia, broke their silence on Wednesday and said they hope local police can quickly determine what happened.

“Our family has been overwhelmed by the messages of love and support coming from across Australia,” they told the Herald Sun.

‘This is every parent’s nightmare and we want to ensure no other family is forced to endure the pain we are going through.

“We hope that the authorities can get to the bottom of what happened as soon as possible.”

Mrs Bowles’ father, Shaun Bowles, said his family had spent every minute by Holly’s side.

Heartbreaking CCTV footage shows a Laos ‘poisoning’ victim being taken to hospital

Mr Toan said the girls had three drinks each between 8pm and 10.30pm before leaving for another location

He told reporters outside Bangkok Hospital on Wednesday: “Right now our daughter is in intensive care, in critical condition, she is on a ventilator.

‘We would like to thank everyone at home for all the support and love we receive.

‘We’d also like people to appreciate it now, we just need privacy so we can spend as much time with Holly as possible.’

The two teenagers had booked a four-night stay at the Nana Backpackers Hostel, where they had been drinking at the bar and playing cards on the night they were poisoned.

Vang Vieng is a tourist town that is especially popular among backpackers looking for parties and adventure sports.

Business appeared to be business as usual on Tuesday evening in the hostel’s surrounding area, full of bars and food stalls.

Jasmine Antonius, a Dutch tourist who has been in Vang Vieng for three days, said she tried to be more careful with drinks after hearing about the case.

“I think sometimes you don’t really look at how your drinks are made,” she said. “I feel like it’s been a wake-up call for a lot of people since this happened. So I hope people would take more precautions because it’s really sad.”

Local police have launched an investigation into the poisoning, which is still ongoing.

This is a current news item and is being updated.