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Tourists hurt in Maldives blast | Tourists hurt in Maldives blast |
(10 minutes 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. | |
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. |
A British Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "Two British nationals were injured and we are seeking to confirm this with the authorities in the Maldives." | A British Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "Two British nationals were injured and we are seeking to confirm this with the authorities in the Maldives." |
'Burns and cuts' | 'Burns and cuts' |
She confirmed the British pair, thought to be a couple in their 30s, lived in the Gulf state of Qatar. | She confirmed the British pair, thought to be a couple in their 30s, lived in the Gulf state of Qatar. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
The Maldives has a reputation for tranquillity | The Maldives has a reputation for tranquillity |
"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." |
Army headquarters | Army headquarters |
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. |
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 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. |
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 and the capital has not witnessed gunfire or explosions since an attempted coup in 1988. | The Muslim country has a reputation for tranquillity and the capital has not witnessed gunfire or explosions since an attempted coup in 1988. |
Are you in the area? Have you, or anyone you know, been affected? Send us your comments and accounts using the form below. | Are you in the area? Have you, or anyone you know, been affected? Send us your comments and accounts using the form below. |
You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 (0)7725 100 100 | You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 (0)7725 100 100 |
Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |