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Tourists hurt in Maldives blast | Tourists hurt in Maldives blast |
(2 days later) | |
Twelve tourists have been wounded in a bomb blast in a park near the main mosque in the Maldives capital of Male, the UK Foreign Office has said. | Twelve tourists have been wounded in a bomb blast in a park near the main mosque in the Maldives capital of Male, the UK Foreign Office has said. |
Two Britons, two Japanese and eight Chinese tourists were hurt by the bomb - reported to have been homemade. | Two Britons, two Japanese and eight Chinese tourists were hurt by the bomb - reported to have been homemade. |
Local media said the blast was triggered using a mobile phone and washing machine motor attached to a gas cylinder. | Local media said the blast was triggered using a mobile phone and washing machine motor attached to a gas cylinder. |
This is the first time a bomb has exploded in the Maldives. | This is the first time a bomb has exploded in the Maldives. |
It is not yet clear who was behind the attack, or what the intended target was. | It is not yet clear who was behind the attack, or what the intended target was. |
A British Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed the British pair, thought to be a couple in their 30s, lived in the Gulf state of Qatar. | A British Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed the British pair, thought to be a couple in their 30s, lived in the Gulf state of Qatar. |
'Burns and cuts' | 'Burns and cuts' |
It is thought they were staying on Baros - one of 87 designated tourist islands in the Maldives. | It is thought they were staying on Baros - one of 87 designated tourist islands in the Maldives. |
Maldives government spokesman Mohamed Shareef confirmed 12 people had received burn injuries and said the victims were in a stable condition. He said the British nationals had suffered the most serious injuries. | Maldives government spokesman Mohamed Shareef confirmed 12 people had received burn injuries and said the victims were in a stable condition. He said the British nationals had suffered the most serious injuries. |
Police officers have been investigating the bomb site | Police officers have been investigating the bomb site |
"The Maldives has never had something like this before. We are taking this very seriously because tourism is our life blood," he said. | "The Maldives has never had something like this before. We are taking this very seriously because tourism is our life blood," he said. |
Ahmed Afaal, managing director of the ADK Hospital in Male where the two injured Britons are being treated, said the British victims were a woman aged 31 and a 36-year-old man. | Ahmed Afaal, managing director of the ADK Hospital in Male where the two injured Britons are being treated, said the British victims were a woman aged 31 and a 36-year-old man. |
He said: "The female has got first degree and second degree burns covering up to 40% of her body. And the male has got 27% burns." | He said: "The female has got first degree and second degree burns covering up to 40% of her body. And the male has got 27% burns." |
A spokeswoman for Universal Resorts, which owns hotels complexes in the Maldives, said 10 of those injured, including the Britons, were staying with them. | A spokeswoman for Universal Resorts, which owns hotels complexes in the Maldives, said 10 of those injured, including the Britons, were staying with them. |
Army headquarters | Army headquarters |
She said: "As far as we are aware Universal Resorts have a total of 10 guests who were injured, two of whom were UK citizens that actually live in Qatar. | She said: "As far as we are aware Universal Resorts have a total of 10 guests who were injured, two of whom were UK citizens that actually live in Qatar. |
"Those two guests are being taken care of in the hospital in Male and are with Universal Resorts staff. | "Those two guests are being taken care of in the hospital in Male and are with Universal Resorts staff. |
"They have requested that they would like to go back to Qatar as soon as possible." | "They have requested that they would like to go back to Qatar as soon as possible." |
The two other injured tourists, who were not guests of Universal Resorts, are believed to be from Japan. | The two other injured tourists, who were not guests of Universal Resorts, are believed to be from Japan. |
The Maldives has a reputation for tranquillity | The Maldives has a reputation for tranquillity |
A Foreign Office official is flying to the Maldives to provide consular assistance. The Foreign Office does not have staff permanently based in the Maldives. | A Foreign Office official is flying to the Maldives to provide consular assistance. The Foreign Office does not have staff permanently based in the Maldives. |
A witness reported seeing scattered nails after the blast. | A witness reported seeing scattered nails after the blast. |
The park is in the shadow of the Maldives army headquarters and several surveillance cameras are trained on the area. | The park is in the shadow of the Maldives army headquarters and several surveillance cameras are trained on the area. |
More than 600,000 tourists visited the Maldives last year, and the tourist industry is the linchpin of the country's economy. | More than 600,000 tourists visited the Maldives last year, and the tourist industry is the linchpin of the country's economy. |
The Muslim country has a reputation for tranquillity among tourists but in recent years the government of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has been repeatedly criticised for its handling of opposition protests. |