Authorities have arrested and remanded a fourth local in Dharavandhoo island of Baa atoll in a special operation conducted in relation to the assassination attempt against former president and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.

Ahmed Fathih, Dhunfinihiyaa, from Gan island of Laamu Atoll was arrested in B. Dharavandhoo on Wednesday night in a special operation, Maldives Police Service (MPS) have revealed.

Ahmed Fathih is the fourth local man to have been arrested following the terror attack which targeted former president Nasheed on 6 May. Mujaz Ahmed, 21 (NID: A370231), native of the capital city and Thahumeen Ahmed, 32 (NID: A306408), native of Kondey island in Gaaf Alif atoll were the first two suspects to be arrested, followed by Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed, Hiyaa, from Thinadhoo island of Vaavu atoll. All four suspects arrested in this case have been remanded by 15 days as investigations continue into the attempt to take former president Mohamed Nasheed's life.

Ahmed Fathih had reportedly travelled to Dharavandhoo on 10 May 2021 in order to marry, and was taken into custody while observing quarantine due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Police and Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) have been conducting a number of special operations against religious extremism and terror across the Maldives following the assassination attempt against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed. Nine people were arrested in an operation conducted earlier in Addu City with suspected links to the terrorist attack against Nasheed, with authorities also having seized a number of objects and belongings believed to be critical for investigations in this case.

Police have also revealed that search and seizure operations have been conducted in five homes across the Maldives' capital, where authorities have located a number of objects of interest for the investigation. Police added that the operations were being conducted in order to crack down on violent extremism and terror, and that while they had yet to seize outright weapons, authorities had confiscated digital devices and other objects needed for their investigation in these operations.

Maldives Police Service have confirmed one arrest in the latest operation conducted in Hulhumale' ward of Male' City on Thursday, but have not yet provided further details as to whether they are linked to the assassination attempt against former president Mohamed Nasheed.