Attack on Nadheem part of the series of gang violence across the capital city

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has said that Nadheem 'Nadey' Abdul Raheem was the victim of a series of gang violence across the capital Malé City.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Station Inspector Ahmed Saamih said that the investigation into the murder showed that the attack on Nadheem was one "in a series of gang violence across the city".

24-year-old Nadheem was at a café in Malé City on July 27, when he was stabbed in the head by a group of masked assailants; he succumbed to the injuries two days later while receiving treatment at ADK Hospital.

Police said that four suspects were apprehended over the fatal attack, including a minor.

While police did not reveal the details of the minor, charges have been levied against all four; Mohamed Mafaz Hussain Saleem,19; Ali Nifaz. 24; and Hussain Shamin, 24.

Inspector Saamih further said that Nadheem did not have a criminal record, but that those arrested over the attack do.

Noting that the attack on Nadheem "had been pre-planned," police said that the attackers had tried to attack another individual at the café as well.

Furthermore, police said that they were able to identify the suspects from the video footage collected, but that the first arrest in the case was made on August 11.

While police said that Mafaz, believed to be the main suspect in the case, was the first suspect apprehended in the investigation, he was arrested from a house in the Galolhu ward of the capital Malé City was arrested on the August 10.