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Tourists hurt in Maldives blast Tourists hurt in Maldives blast
(about 1 hour later)
Twelve tourists have been wounded in a bomb blast in the Maldives. Twelve tourists have been wounded in a bomb blast outside a mosque in the Maldives capital of Male, the UK Foreign Office says.
The blast happened outside the main mosque in Male, the capital of the group of islands in the Indian Ocean. Two Britons, a Japanese and eight Chinese tourists were hurt by the bomb - reported to have been homemade.
Two Britons, a Japanese and eight Chinese tourists were injured in the explosion. Local media said the blast was triggered using a mobile phone and washing machine motor attached to a gas cylinder.
Reports say the explosion was triggered by a home-made device using a mobile phone and washing machine motor attached to a gas cylinder, and a witness said he saw scattered nails.
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."
It left 12 people with burn injuries, government spokesman Mohamed Shareef said.It left 12 people with burn injuries, government spokesman Mohamed Shareef said.
The Maldives has a reputation for tranquility A witness reported seeing scattered nails after the blast.
The Maldives has a reputation for tranquillity
"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 500,000 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 1998.The Muslim country has a reputation for tranquillity and the capital has not witnessed gunfire or explosions since an attempted coup in 1998.
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