- The Washington Times - Thursday, September 19, 2013

The daughter of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was threatened at gunpoint in a botched robbery Monday night, the Daily Mail reported.

Kathryn Blair, a 25-year-old barrister, was walking her dog in central London with her boyfriend and some friends when they were approached by two men, one armed with a gun, and were asked for cash before the suspects fled empty-handed.

Neither Miss Blair nor her boyfriend was harmed in the attack, and nothing was stolen.

Both attackers had their faces covered, the Daily Mail reported. Metropolitan Police officers from the Westminster borough are investigating, but no arrests have been made.

According to the report, the attack raises concerns for the Blairs’ safety, who could be targeted because of Mr. Blair’s role as peace envoy to the Middle East.

“It seems staggering that the daughter of a man who evokes such extreme emotions in some should be wandering around in the dark at night without protection,” a security expert to the Mail. “To think she had a gun pulled on her and was effectively defenseless raises massive questions about her personal safety.”

Miss Blair’s neighbor said yesterday: “She must have been absolutely terrified. I can’t imagine what must have gone through her mind when she saw a man pull out a gun. My first thought would have been terrorist.”

Police believe the incident was connected with another botched robbery in the area earlier that evening, They’ve responded by putting extra patrols in the surrounding area as their investigations are carried out, the Daily Mail reported.

• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.

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