"Loud noise, smoke and shrapnel; ex-Pres. Nasheed seen kneeling on the ground."

Maldives was left shocked on Thursday night, after an explosion in the nation's capital left former president and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed injured in an explosion outside his home. President Nasheed was injured with four others in the blast, and the attack has received attention from international media and diplomats across the world.

Former president Nasheed was targeted in an explosion outside his home where he and four others sustained injuries from the impact. The blast shook the Maldives' capital at around 8:39pm, in a central street where Speaker Nasheed had parked his car.

An eyewitness described a loid crashing noise as the explosion shook the capital on Thursdsay night.

Buildings shook on the other side of the street

An eyewitness recounts the explosion that left former President Mohamed Nasheed with multiple injuries

While former president Nasheed had been entering his car at the time of the blast, he had been seen kneeling off to the side afterwards. A small crowd gathered there immediately after, and had recounted seeing officers of the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) lying on the street, disoriented by the blast. Speaker Nasheed was rushed to ADK Hospital by his bodyguards and other officers, where he is receiving multiple surgeries for injuries sustained.

ADK Hospital, where the former President was rushed within about two minutes after the explosopn, said that he is undergoing essential surgeries, with additional requirements to be ifdentified after an initial assessment of his status.

In an address held early on Monday morning, President Solih confirmed that former president Nasheed was undergoing surgery at ADK Hospital following the attack. President Solih also revealed that Australian Federal Police will arrive in the Maldives on Saturday to assist the Police and MNDF investigate the case.

President Solih strongly condemned the attempt on Speaker Nasheed's life, describing it as an attack on the Maldives' economy and democracy.

The attack on former president Nasheed left the Maldives' capital unusually quiet and full of static energy in the early hours of Friday, with a curfew imposed due to Covid-19 having come into effect at 9pm. Officers of MNDF and Maldives Police Service are now active in Male' City as the security threat is assessed further and neutralized.