By Xinhua
Colombo : Two people have been arrested in connection with an explosion in the Maldivian capital Male that injured 12 tourists, in the first such terror attack in the country, officials said Sunday.
The explosion caused by a locally made device rocked Male Saturday afternoon injuring eight Chinese, two Japanese and two British tourists, said Mohamed H. Shareef, the chief government spokesman.
It occurred at about 2.30 p.m. (0930 GMT) in a park in the central area of Male.
The spokesman said the injured Chinese and the Japanese have been discharged after being treated at hospital but the two British nationals, who were severely injured, were still receiving treatment.
The spokesman said the government had no idea who was responsible for the explosion.
Shareef said this was the first such explosion in the Maldives after many years and the government would do its best to investigate the incident.
More than 60,000 tourists visit the archipelago each year, generating about one-third of the country’s total income.
Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has condemned the blast.
The president’s office said in a statement that it was the first time that the Maldives had suffered such a terrorist attack.
“During his visit to the foreign nationals injured in the explosion, the president said that this has been a very sad day for the Maldives,” said the statement.