One of the two suspects arrested for claiming to be in possession of an explosive near the presidential palace, has been released.

Media officer at the Maldives Police Service (MPS) told RaajjeMV that the person who claimed to have been carrying a bomb near the presidential residence, has been apprehended and will be taken for his remand hearing on Sunday.

The other suspect was released later the same day of the arrest.

It has been revealed that both suspects have previous drug possession records.

They were arrested near Mulee'aage, after they claimed that they were carrying a bomb inside a suitcase, on Friday. Officers of MPS and Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) were dispatched near the area after receiving the reports.

Threatening to carry out a terrorist attack is punishable according to the Maldives constitution.

On June 2, security levels near the presidential residence were strengthened following intel reports of bomb threats. The area near Mulee’aage is always secured by MNDF officers and following the bomb threats, security was boosted.

Security measures were strengthened across the Maldives capital, following a terrorist attack on May 6. Former President and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed was targeted with an assassination attempt on May 6, as he was heading out to attend an event in an island. The attack, which saw a remote-controlled IED explode near his residence in the center of Malé City, caused serious injuries to the ex-president who was rushed to the hospital within seven minutes after being knocked to the ground by the blast, which was dubbed far more powerful than the explosion in Sultan Park, 2007.