The president of Tanzania has visited two British 18-year-old women who were the targets of an acid attack on the Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar late on Wednesday night.
11:20AM BST 08 Aug 2013
Kirstie Trup, from Hampstead, north London, and Katie Gee both suffered injuries to their faces, chests and hands, and were transferred to a hospital on the Tanzanian mainland where their injuries were described as "mild".
Jakaya Kikwete, Tanzania's president, promised that their attackers would be found.
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, left, at the hospital. (AP)
"It's a shameful attack that tarnishes the image of our country, I order security agents to speed up the investigations and arrest the suspects," he said after visiting the pair in hospital.
They were in the final week of their trip, working as volunteers at a charity art programme on the island, a popular tourist destination famous for its white-sand beaches and spice plantations.
They were attacked as they walked in Stone Town, the island's capital, on Wednesday evening at a time when the streets were deserted as locals broke their Ramadan fast.
The street in Stone Town where it is believed the attack happened. (BARCROFT MEDIA)
Kirstie's father Marc Trup, a dentist and company director, said from the family home in Hampstead, north London: "We're trying to get them back as soon as possible. We're trying to organise a medivac flight."
Tanzania's president, Jakaya Kikwete, visited Miss Gee and Miss Trup in hospital, and pledged that their attackers would be found.
"It's a shameful attack that tarnishes the image of our country, I order security agents to speed up the investigations and arrest the suspects," Mr Kikwete said.
(Sky News)
(Sky News)
A friend said Katie, a former pupil at the £5,375 per term Francis Holland School in Sloane Square, Chelsea, had also been attacked two weeks ago.
Oli Cohen, 21, said: "Katie was attacked two weeks ago by a Muslim woman for singing on Ramadan.
"She was shocked as it just came from out of the blue - but she wasn't scared enough to come home she stayed out there to finish her trip and volunteering.
"It's a very difficult time for their friends and family and I just wish them well.
"Both are very nice girls who wouldn't hurt a fly."
The two women were treated at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam.
A street in Stone Town, Zanzibar, listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO (AFP/Getty Images)
A street in Stone Town, Zanzibar, listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO (AFP/Getty Images)
According to Bashir Ismail, of Art in Tanzania, the two women were teaching at St. Monica nursery school, linked to the Catholic church.
They had argued with a nearby shop owner a few days ago when they went for groceries.
Mr Ismail said the two women, who were staying in Stone Town, were properly dressed when the attack happened as they were going for dinner at a beach restaurant.
"The two attackers passed by several white tourists in the area and threw acid after reaching closer to them which raises suspicion of aplanned attack," Mr Ismail said.
A doctor at the hospital who was part of the team that attended to the teenagers said that their injuries were "mild".
"We suspect that whatever the liquid was, it was not true acid, it may have been diluted," he said. "They have burns on their hands from wiping the liquid off. They have minor injuries on their chests and their necks. Considering it could have been very bad, what they have is quite mild.
"They were shocked, of course, but they are not feeling very bad."
It is expected that the two women will return to Britain on the first available flight.
The teenagers were on a trip organised by Kent-based i-to-i Travel. A spokesman for the company said: "They were flown to Dar es Salaam in mainland Tanzania for medical treatment and have now been released from hospital.
"All our efforts remain focused on ensuring they are supported whilst assisting them and their relatives with the arrangements for their return home.
"i-to-i Travel is working with the authorities in their investigations and continue to liaise closely with the British consulate in Tanzania.
"The motive for the incident is as yet not known and we will await the report from the local authorities in Zanzibar before any comment can be made.
"The female clients had been volunteer teachers on Zanzibar and were in the final week of their trip.
"The safety of our customers is of paramount importance to us and our own investigation will be launched as soon as it is possible to do so and more information will be released as it becomes available."
Two men on a moped drove past the pair and the pillion passenger threw the liquid at the British women before speeding off.
"Police in Zanzibar have launched a manhunt, and we ask for public assistance in identifying the attackers," said Mkadam Khamis, the island's deputy police commissioner.
The attack on the women came at the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, and as people began to celebrate the Eid holiday.
"The motive for the attack on the volunteers aged 18 years, has not been established. Investigations are on until we apprehend the criminals," Mr Khamis said.
(Alamy)
(Alamy)
Zanzibar has long been a favoured holiday destination for foreign tourists, and there have rarely been tensions between the majority Muslim population and holidaymakers relaxing in bikinis on beaches or drinking in bars.
Recently however there have been a series of attacks targeting representatives of different religions.
These 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.
The semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago lies 20 miles off the Tanzanian mainland.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We are aware of an incident and are providing consular assistance."
The Foreign Office travel advice for Tanzania warns that although most visits to the country are trouble-free, "violent and armed crime is increasing".
The advice on its website says: "Mugging, bag snatching (especially from passing cars) and robbery have increased throughout the country."
It adds: "In Zanzibar incidents have taken place in Stone Town and on popular tourist beaches."
Source: The Telegraph
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