Two British women volunteering in Zanzibar, Tanzania were attacked with acid, Fox News reported.
Police said Thursday the assailants were riding on a motorcycle when they threw the acid on the two volunteer teachers, striking their faces and arms. Mkadam Khamis, a police commander on the island of Zanzibar, said the attack took place on Wednesday night in Stone Town, the island's capital city that's known for its tourist attraction.
Both women, 18, were sent to a hospital in Dar es Salaam. They are from Manchester, England and are expected to return home on Thursday, according to Reuters. A spokesperson for Britain's Foreign Office said they have been notified of the incident and have offered their assistance. They mentioned they were in contact with Tanzanian authorities.
Nobody is in custody at this point. Although officials have not found a motive for the incident, Tanzania has experienced religious tension between Christians and Muslims within the past few months.
"We are looking after the attackers, and we are expanding our police networks in and outside the country to make sure we apprehend them", Khamis explained. "The victims sustained facial, chest and back injuries from the acid attack."
Reuters reported this incident follows the acid attack of Sheikh Fadhil Suleiman Soraga, a Muslim leader, back in November. Additionally, two Christian leaders were killed earlier this year in different incidents.
Since last year, this is the third reported acid attack against British travelers.
A separatist group called Uamsho, which means awakening, is fighting for independence from Tanzania due to the country's secularism. Uamsho wants Zanzibar to be ruled under Sharia law. Although Uamsho has not been connected to anti-Christian violence, they have engaged in battles with police before.
Enduring an acid attack causes the skin to burn through and can even dissolve bone. These attacks, also referred to as vitriolage, have become a problem in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Cambodia.
