President holds NSC meeting over violent attack on foreigners

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has held a National Security Council (NSC) meeting over the attack on three foreigners earlier this week.

Three foreigners -two Chinese and one Australian- all male, were attacked by two helmet-clad persons on a motorcycle at around 8:10 pm on February 4th, in the capital’s suburban district Hulhumalé.

In a press statement by the President's office released on Thursday, the Government assured the public that threats or attempts to harm any individual on Maldivian soil will not be tolerated and that swift action will be taken against any such perpetrators, as the safety and security of the public is the Government's highest priority.

Moreover, they note that three arrests have been made in relation to the incident, adding that the case is still being investigated by authorities. The press statement further highlights that the victims of the attack received medical attention and are in stable condition.

As such, police revealed in a statement released early Thursday morning, that the attack is to have been carried out by “suspected extremists.”

The police’s announcement came after a video where a group of masked men taking responsibility for the attack began circulating online. This group made further threats against tourists visiting the country.

As such, the President stressed that extremist ideologies are not welcome in the Maldives and urged the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

The president also appealed for the public to seek information from trusted government sources in regard to the attack.

Noting that the government is “closely monitoring the situation”, the Government assured that the public will be updated on any new developments.

The National Security Council counsels the president on matters of national security and was formed under Article 13 (a) of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Act.