In the past two weeks, there have been two major armed robberies
at separate hotels in Zanzibar.  The first robbery took
place at the Coral Reef Hotel about 28 miles north of Stone
Town.  Eight men disguised as police officers, armed with
submachine-guns tied up security staff and made off with nearly
£15,000 in various currencies, watches and mobile phones. 

Less than a week later, six people armed with a gun and machetes
arrived after dark at the Nungwi Village Hotel, an eco-resort in
northern Zanzibar (where the Beetle passed a happy 10 days a
couple of years ago.)  After threatening to kill staff and
guests, the gang robbed them of their laptops, mobile phones and
cash before stealing nearly £9,000 from the safe.

Four people have been arrested in relation to the first incident
but no arrests have been made re the second robbery.