MNDF suspends exercises with live firearms, after bullet grazes tourist

Maldives National Defence Force’s Training Center is Girifushi island has suspended all exercises using live ammunition, after a tourist was grazed in the neck by “an indirect bullet that had ricocheted.”

MNDF said that the 41-year-old German was aboard a boat traveling near the training facility at the time of the incident, adding that the boat was travelling “beyond the standard range for small arms fire within the accepted safe distance and not directly in the line of fire.”

Noting that he had sustained “a non-life-threatening injury,” MNDF said that its first responders took him to Tree Top Hospital in Hulhumalé immediately.

Furthermore, MNDF said that it has launched an investigation into the incident and suspended exercises using live ammunition at the Girifushi Training Center until “a full and thorough investigation.”

The statement highlighted that the safety of both civilians and service personnel “is a paramount concern in the conduct of all training exercises,” and that such exercises with live firearms is “a necessary part” of its training programmes.

MNDF also apologized for the “unfortunate” incident, and gave its full assurance that more stringent safety measures will be implemented "to prevent such incidents from repeating.”