Two British students doing conservation work in Tanzania have been shot by an armed gang who reportedly “robbed and terrorised” them and the rest of their group.
The Daily Telegraph reports that several of the 25-strong group were beaten by the gang as they ate at a beach-side restaurant on the island of Pemba.
An 18-year-old woman was shot in the side, with the bullet narrowly missing her spine; the bullet went through her body and then hit another member of the party in the leg. They are both now recovering in hospital.
The woman’s father is quoted as saying: “The robbers forced the youngsters to lie in the sand and they subjected several of them to very indecent treatment. Some of the girls had to remove clothing for the robbers to get access to their money. Most of them lost significant amounts of money.”
A spokesman for the Society for Environmental Exploration, which organised the trip, said it had been going to Tanzania for 15 years and this was the first such incident.
However, the Telegraph also quotes another volunteer worker who said his group had also been attacked on the island of Pemba in February.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad
