Two men on moped threw acid at female volunteers, both 18, as they walked through east African island's capital Zanzibar City
Two young British women have been attacked with acid while working for a charity on the east African archipelago of Zanzibar.
The volunteers, both 18 and from London, were walking through the old part of the main island's capital, Zanzibar City, on Wednesday night when two men on a moped threw acid at them.
Media reports named the pair as Katie Gee and Kirstie Trup, who were working as volunteers with the NGO Art in Tanzania.
According to Sky News, the liquid splashed the women's faces, chests and hands. They were flown to hospital in Dar es Salaam with non-life-threatening injuries, and discharged on Thursday morning.
The volunteering company that arranged the trip confirmed the attack in a statement released on Thursday morning.
It read: "i-to-i Travel regrets to confirm that two female clients from London have been involved in an acid attack in Stone Town on the island of Zanzibar on the evening of the 7th August 2013. They were flown to Dar es Salaam in mainland Tanzania for medical treatment and have now been released from hospital."
The company said the motive for the assault was unknown, and that it was awaiting a report from the local authorities. The women are understood to have been in the final week of their volunteering visit.
The statement continued: "All our efforts remain focussed 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 continues to liaise closely with the British Consulate in Tanzania."
The company said an investigation would be launched as soon as possible.
Local police confirmed that they were unsure why the women had been targeted.
"The motive for the attack on the volunteers, aged 18 years, has not been established," said deputy police commissioner Mkadam Khamis. "Police in Zanzibar have launched a manhunt, and we ask for public assistance in identifying the attackers."
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We are concerned to hear of an attack on two British citizens on Zanzibar on 7 August. We are providing consular assistance and are in contact with the Tanzanian authorities."
i-to-i Travel, which is based in Tunbridge Wells in Kent, runs gap year trips to parts of Africa, Asia, central and South America and Australia, with trips to teach in Zanzibar starting at £669 for two weeks.
The attack is thought to be the first such assault on foreigners, although religious violence has recently flared up on the archipelago, which lies around 22 miles off the coast of mainland Tanzania.
In February this year, a Roman Catholic priest was shot dead and a church torched. In November, a Muslim cleric was attacked with acid.
Around 75,000 Britons travel to Tanzania each year, according to the FCO, which says that although most visits are trouble-free, "violent and armed crime is increasing".
In advice posted on its website, it says: "Mugging, bag snatching [especially from passing cars] and robbery have increased throughout the country."
The FCO warns travellers to take sensible precautions to protect themselves and their belongings, noting that incidents have occurred in Stone Town and on popular tourist beaches.
