Maldives Police Service (MPS) has arrested three more individuals in their counter-terrorism operation which began in Maduvvari island, Raa atoll during December.

Three Maldivian men, aged 22, 26 and 28 respectively, were arrested on Tuesday, confirmed authorities who have since taken the men into police custody.

While the operation, prompted by the surfacing of an issue relating to a 13-year-old child bride having given birth in the island after being raped and impregnated by a man, Ismail Hammaadh, began on 18 December, officers arrested three individuals the very same day.

Maduvvari is deemed to have a large community supporting extremism, recruiting individuals to terrorist organizations as well as obstructing the rights of children and women that separates itself from the society by supporting extremist ideologies, expressing interest in joining foreign conflicts and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, neglecting their children medical rights such as vaccination as well as keeping their women locked up and imprisoned at home.

During the operation, authorities discovered yet another pregnant 13-year-old child bride and took her under the protection of authorities, also having arrested the parents of the previously-discovered child bride.

Officers will be continuing the operation in seven other islands as well.

Reports of the child being raped by Ismail Hammadh surfaced during November and met with public outrage. He was attacked by crew members on board a sea-cucumber fishing boat over an ideological disagreement on 22 November. DNA reports have proven that the child is his. The rapist has since been remanded by 15 days and court has pressed charges on him as well.