FRIENDS of a newlywed British couple killed on their honeymoon by ISIS-linked terrorists say they have been left "speechless" by their murders.
David Barlow, 50, and his new wife Celia, 51, were gunned down along with their driver Eric Alyai during a safari in Uganda.
The couple, from Hampstead Norreys, Berks, were travelling through Queen Elizabeth National Park on Tuesday evening when the suspected Islamic terrorists opened fire and then torched their car.
Local cops believe members of the ISIS-linked Allied Democratic Forces are behind the “cowardly” attack.
Pals said David and Celia, who would have been together for ten years this December, got married in South Africa just two days before they were murdered.
David is listed as a director of Barlow & Sons, which runs a wood yard in nearby Thatcham, and was also a keen cricketer and chairman of his local parish council.
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His architect wife was a South African national living in the UK.
They were due to fly back from their dream Africa honeymoon on October 28.
Wedding guest Penney Wentzel said she has been left "devastated" by their murders.
She told The Sun: "They were lovely people. I'm completely speechless.
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"It's horrendous. It's completely mind-boggling. There is no way one can digest it. It's incredible."
Ms Wentzel said David and Celia got married at the weekend.
She added: "About 40 people came from the UK for the wedding and all of her family from the Western Cape.
"I've known Celia since she was 18. She was the most beautiful, sunny human being.
"Incredibly successful, generous, marvellous person."
The couple's local church also posted a heartfelt tribute to them, describing the deadly attack as "incomprehensible".
Church warden Richard Davies wrote: "We wake today with a heavy heart, and the deepest sorrow to hear the devastating news of the death of Dave and Celia Barlow.
"Our thoughts are with their families, their much loved friends and all who knew them in Hampstead Norreys and our wider community.
"We also remember the family of their Ugandan guide, who was also killed.
"Words cannot express how to react to this dreadful news."
'Cowardly act'
Cricket club secretary Oliver Laurence told how veteran slow bowler David – the club's chairman – was known fondly as "Lord Barlow".
He wrote on the club's Facebook page: "Dave has been a constant around the Hampstead Norreys Cricket Club for many, many years, and among the many of us who had the privilege to share a joke with him, play cricket with him, and watch as he took wicket after wicket with his famously slow action was a treat.
"He was at the time this incident occurred with the most important person in his life, a woman who we all knew so well, as Dave was so proud to share all of Celia's achievements.
"She too was an amazing human being, who will be desperately missed.
"Lord Barlow as we fondly know him by will be with us forever.
"The entire club's thoughts and prayers are with Dave and Celia's families right now."
Ugandan authorities blamed the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) for the attack.
President Yoweri Musevini said: “It was a cowardly act on the part of the terrorists attacking innocent civilians and tragic for the couple who were newlyweds and visiting Uganda on their honeymoon
"Of course, these terrorists will pay with their own wretched lives.
“However, killing these wretched individuals will not bring back the lives of these wonderful friends of Uganda who had chosen our country for their honeymoon out of the 193 Countries of the world.
“Our High Commission in the UK will reach out to their families and provide whatever support is necessary in this tragic situation.”
The ADF has historically been a Ugandan rebel coalition made up of Muslims who are opposed to Museveni.
The group pledged their allegiance to the central African division of ISIS in 2019.
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They have been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians, and have also been accused of escalating the kidnappings of foreign tourists.
Felix Kulayigye, an Ugandan military spokesman, said a joint army, police and wildlife authority force have deployed all resources to pursue the terrorists.
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