Acid attack on UK women in Zanzibar

Two young British women have been attacked with acid on the east African island of Zanzibar, reports say.

The women had the corrosive substance thrown in their faces during the late-night assault, Sky News said.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: “We are aware of an incident and are providing consular assistance.”

She added that officials became aware of the incident last night.

Deputy police commissioner Mkadam Khamis told Sky News: “Police in Zanzibar have launched a manhunt, and we ask for public assistance in identifying the attackers.”

Zanzibar is an archipelago of islands in the Indian Ocean around 22 miles off the coast of mainland Tanzania.