A military investigative team is now active on Keyodhoo island of Vaavu atoll after a firearm was discovered there on Friday.

Ahmed Yusuf, the island council’s chair, said that the team is questioning the guardians of the children that had stumbled upon the rusted firearm on the island’s beach.

The said investigative team includes five officers of the Maldives National Defence Force, while the police have been active on the island since the discovery was reported to them.

The firearm was discovered at around 11:30 am by a group of children, all at the age of ten. After having suspected it to be a real firearm, the children had alerted a group of people at a nearby coffee shop.

Keyodhoo’s council, who were notified shortly after, said that the weapon had been wrapped in a black plastic bag.

A soldier on holiday in the island had inspected it before informing the council that it was real, adding that it had no bullets.

It has now been handed over to the police.