Seven arrested over Maldives blast

Seven people from the Maldives have been arrested in connection with the bomb blast which injured 12 tourists.British couple Christian and Jennifer Donelan were among the casualties of the explosion in the capital, Male.Mr and Mrs Donelan, who live in Qatar, were thought to have been on honeymoon. They had been staying on Baros, one of 87 designated tourist islands in the ocean chain that welcome thousands of Britons each year.Maldives government spokesman Mohamed Shareef said that police arrested the suspects hours after the blast, but no motive has been established yet.All except the British couple, who have sustained 40 per cent burn injuries, were discharged from hospital and immediately sent home.Mr Shareef said it was too early to say whether the bomb targeted the tourism industry or was the work of Islamic militants.Mr Donelan, originally from Rotherham, has undergone surgery to treat burns to his arms and legs.His wife, whose maiden name is Green, suffered more serious burns but both are conscious and able to speak to friends and family by phone.Mr Donelan's friend Tim Bulleyment said: "Christian sounded really rough but he said he was lucky to be alive."The couple, both thought to be aged in their 30s, married in Italy just two weeks ago before their honeymoon in the Maldives, it was reported.They had been coming to the end of their holiday when the device exploded near a park in Male, which is on a separate island from Baros.If confirmed as a terrorist attack it brings the spectre of terrorism to a country that has been peaceful up until now.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

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ITN | September 30, 2007

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