This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23629334
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Zanzibar acid attack on Trup and Gee: Reward offered | Zanzibar acid attack on Trup and Gee: Reward offered |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Zanzibar police say a reward of 10m Tanzanian shillings (£3,970, $6,170) has been offered for information leading to the capture of attackers who threw acid at two UK women. | Zanzibar police say a reward of 10m Tanzanian shillings (£3,970, $6,170) has been offered for information leading to the capture of attackers who threw acid at two UK women. |
Kirstie Trup and Katie Gee, both 18 and from London, had acid thrown on their faces, chests and hands. | Kirstie Trup and Katie Gee, both 18 and from London, had acid thrown on their faces, chests and hands. |
The island's Police Commissioner Musa Ali Musa told the BBC that there was "no prime suspect" for the attack. | The island's Police Commissioner Musa Ali Musa told the BBC that there was "no prime suspect" for the attack. |
He said that a lot of people had been questioned and information gathered. | He said that a lot of people had been questioned and information gathered. |
However no-one has been arrested or charged and investigations are continuing, Mr Musa said. | However no-one has been arrested or charged and investigations are continuing, Mr Musa said. |
The police commissioner added that the reward, which is being offered by Zanzibar's government, was considered a large amount of money on the island. | The police commissioner added that the reward, which is being offered by Zanzibar's government, was considered a large amount of money on the island. |
He said it was the first time visitors to the island had been attacked in this way, describing the incident as "alien" to both the police investigating and the victims. | He said it was the first time visitors to the island had been attacked in this way, describing the incident as "alien" to both the police investigating and the victims. |
Officers had no idea as to the motive, he said. | Officers had no idea as to the motive, he said. |
'Unprovoked attack' | 'Unprovoked attack' |
The two young Britons have been flown back to the UK. | |
Their plane was met by ambulances when it arrived at RAF Northolt in west London at lunchtime on Friday. | |
They had been taken to Tanzania's largest city Dar es Salaam for medical treatment following the attack, which took place in Stone Town, the old part of Zanzibar's capital, on Wednesday. | |
The women's families have said they are "extremely upset" by the "completely unprovoked attack" on their daughters. | The women's families have said they are "extremely upset" by the "completely unprovoked attack" on their daughters. |
The victims were two weeks into a three-week trip, volunteering for the charity Art in Tanzania. | The victims were two weeks into a three-week trip, volunteering for the charity Art in Tanzania. |
Zanzibar's President Ali Mohammed Shein said the assault had "brought chaos and confusion to our country and outside". | |
Speaking to Muslims celebrating the Eid al-Fitr festival, he said: | |
"It was not a civilised act, it is not Islam. | |
"It was very cruel to throw acid on these innocent young girls." | |
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. | 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. |
However, most islanders depend on tourism for their livelihoods and are happy to see tourists, so there is little antagonism towards them, she said. | However, most islanders depend on tourism for their livelihoods and are happy to see tourists, so there is little antagonism towards them, she said. |