The owner of the boat that capsized off Bahrain last week killing 58 passengers has been arrested. Bahrain’s public prosecutors have confirmed that Abdullah al-Qubaisi is being held for questioning over allegations of negligent homicide and misuse of licence. The captain and his assistant were detained earlier.

Nawaf Hamza, one of Bahrain’s top public prosecutors, said that Mr al-Qubaisi did not have a licence to charter the Al-Dana for cruises, and that he has admitted his vessel was not insured.

At least 12 Britons were killed; most were employed in the construction and property sector, celebrating the completion of Bahrain’s World Trade Centre at the party onboard.

The reasons for the capsize are still under investigation, but the 24m (80ft) boat, which is said to have had a maximum capacity of 100, was carrying more than 120 people when the accident happened. Mr al-Qubaisi earlier blamed the tour company operating the boat for overloading it, but Mr Hamza commented: ‘The captain contacted the owner when he noticed there were too many passengers? the owner told him to sail despite this.’