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| Zanzibar acid attack victims expected back in UK | Zanzibar acid attack victims expected back in UK |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two British women who had acid thrown in their faces in Zanzibar are expected to arrive back in the UK later. | Two British women who had acid thrown in their faces in Zanzibar are expected to arrive back in the UK later. |
| Kirstie Trup and Katie Gee, both 18 and from north London, were taken to hospital in mainland Tanzania after being attacked in the island's capital. | Kirstie Trup and Katie Gee, both 18 and from north London, were taken to hospital in mainland Tanzania after being attacked in the island's capital. |
| It is believed they left Tanzania on a flight to the UK on Thursday night. | It is believed they left Tanzania on a flight to the UK on Thursday night. |
| Zanzibar police have offered a £4,000 reward for information leading to capture of those who threw acid at the pair. | Zanzibar police have offered a £4,000 reward for information leading to capture of those who threw acid at the pair. |
| The women's mothers, Rochelle Trup and Nicky Gee, said they were "extremely upset" by the "completely unprovoked attack" carried out by two men on a moped. | The women's mothers, Rochelle Trup and Nicky Gee, said they were "extremely upset" by the "completely unprovoked attack" carried out by two men on a moped. |
| Police said acid was thrown on the teenagers' faces, chests and hands as they walked through the streets of Stone Town, the old part of the island's capital Zanzibar City, on Wednesday evening. | Police said acid was thrown on the teenagers' faces, chests and hands as they walked through the streets of Stone Town, the old part of the island's capital Zanzibar City, on Wednesday evening. |
| A British tourist, who gave his name as Sam, tried to help the pair after the attack. | A British tourist, who gave his name as Sam, tried to help the pair after the attack. |
| 'Lovely daughters' | 'Lovely daughters' |
| He said: "We heard screaming that sounded like it could be something bad or it could be people messing around. And it sounded like... not panicky screaming, so at first it [made the] hair at the back of your neck stand up and then it was completely fine. | He said: "We heard screaming that sounded like it could be something bad or it could be people messing around. And it sounded like... not panicky screaming, so at first it [made the] hair at the back of your neck stand up and then it was completely fine. |
| "And then maybe 15 seconds later there was a sort of bigger scream." | "And then maybe 15 seconds later there was a sort of bigger scream." |
| He said he and others started to hose down the pair in a restaurant toilet. | He said he and others started to hose down the pair in a restaurant toilet. |
| "They were obviously extremely shocked and in a huge amount of pain and stress and we, having no medical knowledge or background at all, were doing what we could," he said. | "They were obviously extremely shocked and in a huge amount of pain and stress and we, having no medical knowledge or background at all, were doing what we could," he said. |
| Reporting from the scene, the BBC's Alastair Leithead said the attackers sped away after the incident, and police do not know why the women were targeted. | Reporting from the scene, the BBC's Alastair Leithead said the attackers sped away after the incident, and police do not know why the women were targeted. |
| The women's mothers said in a statement issued on Thursday: "Both families are extremely upset and distressed at this completely unprovoked attack on their lovely daughters who had only gone to Zanzibar with good intention. | The women's mothers said in a statement issued on Thursday: "Both families are extremely upset and distressed at this completely unprovoked attack on their lovely daughters who had only gone to Zanzibar with good intention. |
| "We appreciate all the interest and support we have received from the media but we would ask that we are left alone until we have been reunited with our daughters." | "We appreciate all the interest and support we have received from the media but we would ask that we are left alone until we have been reunited with our daughters." |
| Nicky Gee told Sky News her daughter's body and whole face had been burned by acid. | Nicky Gee told Sky News her daughter's body and whole face had been burned by acid. |
| The victims were two weeks into a three-week trip booked through the company i-to-i Travel, which said it was focused on getting them back to the UK. | The victims were two weeks into a three-week trip booked through the company i-to-i Travel, which said it was focused on getting them back to the UK. |
| Motive 'not established' | Motive 'not established' |
| Kari Korhonen, co-director of Art in Tanzania, the charity the women had been volunteering for, said they were "OK considering the seriousness of this type of case". | Kari Korhonen, co-director of Art in Tanzania, the charity the women had been volunteering for, said they were "OK considering the seriousness of this type of case". |
| Another spokesman for the charity said they had been on their way to dinner when the attack happened. | Another spokesman for the charity said they had been on their way to dinner when the attack happened. |
| Police on Zanzibar said it was the first time foreigners had been attacked in this way. | Police on Zanzibar said it was the first time foreigners had been attacked in this way. |
| Deputy police commissioner Mkadam Khamis told AFP news agency: "The motive for the attack...has not been established. Investigations are [continuing] until we apprehend the criminals." | Deputy police commissioner Mkadam Khamis told AFP news agency: "The motive for the attack...has not been established. Investigations are [continuing] until we apprehend the criminals." |
| The Foreign Office said it was concerned to hear of the attack and was providing consular assistance. | The Foreign Office said it was concerned to hear of the attack and was providing consular assistance. |
| The BBC's Tulanana Bohela, in Dar es Salaam, said Islam is the main religion on Zanzibar and in more remote parts of the island, away from tourist beaches, there are signs asking foreigners to respect the local culture and cover up - in case skimpy outfits upset villagers. | The BBC's Tulanana Bohela, in Dar es Salaam, said Islam is the main religion on Zanzibar and in more remote parts of the island, away from tourist beaches, there are signs asking foreigners to respect the local culture and cover up - in case skimpy outfits upset villagers. |
| However, most islanders depend on tourism for their livelihoods and are happy to see tourists and there is little antagonism towards them, she said. | However, most islanders depend on tourism for their livelihoods and are happy to see tourists and there is little antagonism towards them, she said. |
| 'Economic pillar' | 'Economic pillar' |
| Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete visited the women at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam, the country's largest city, and promised that the men responsible for the "shameful" attack would be found. | Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete visited the women at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam, the country's largest city, and promised that the men responsible for the "shameful" attack would be found. |
| Tanzania's minister of information, tourism, culture and sports, Said Ali Mbarouk, said: "I beg our nationals, this is not something they should be doing. | Tanzania's minister of information, tourism, culture and sports, Said Ali Mbarouk, said: "I beg our nationals, this is not something they should be doing. |
| "Tourism is the strongest pillar of our economy, so if we do such acts we are killing our economy, and our livelihoods in general. | "Tourism is the strongest pillar of our economy, so if we do such acts we are killing our economy, and our livelihoods in general. |
| "So it is not an honourable thing to do, it's a bad thing and it should be condemned by all citizens of Zanzibar." | "So it is not an honourable thing to do, it's a bad thing and it should be condemned by all citizens of Zanzibar." |
| The Foreign Office's travel advice says 75,000 British nationals visit Tanzania - including semi-autonomous Zanzibar - every year and most have "trouble free" visits. | The Foreign Office's travel advice says 75,000 British nationals visit Tanzania - including semi-autonomous Zanzibar - every year and most have "trouble free" visits. |
| But it warns that "violent and armed crime is increasing" and "there is an underlying threat from terrorism". | But it warns that "violent and armed crime is increasing" and "there is an underlying threat from terrorism". |
| It also says "mugging, bag snatching (especially from passing cars) and robbery have increased throughout the country" and "in Zanzibar incidents have taken place in Stone Town and on popular tourist beaches". | It also says "mugging, bag snatching (especially from passing cars) and robbery have increased throughout the country" and "in Zanzibar incidents have taken place in Stone Town and on popular tourist beaches". |
| Recent attacks in Zanzibar include an acid attack on a Muslim cleric in November, and the shooting dead of a Catholic priest in February. Another priest was shot and wounded in December. | Recent attacks in Zanzibar include an acid attack on a Muslim cleric in November, and the shooting dead of a Catholic priest in February. Another priest was shot and wounded in December. |