Nasheed assassination attempt: police arrest third and prime suspect
9 މެއި 2021 | އާދީއްތަ 10:52Two suspects arrested earlier are believed to be linked to extremist ideologies
Third suspect being arrested regarding the attack on president Mohamed Nasheed | One Online
A third suspect, believed to be the prime suspect of the assassination attempt against Former President and current Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.
Taking to Twitter on Sunday morning, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that the individual was arrested early Sunday, in connection to the terrorist attack on the former president, carried out on Thursday evening.
The police institution will be sharing further details of the arrests as further developments unfold as the investigation is currently ongoing, however, it has been confirmed that the third suspect is a prime suspect of the terrorist attack. The man was arrested from an apartment near Ghaazee School in Hulhumalé. Photos have since been circulating on social media, showing a group of police officers taking him into custody.
The third individual is believed to be the person shown in CCTV footage circulating on social media, showing a man running off at the area where the blast occurred.
Police publicized CCTV footage on Saturday as well, where Nasheed was seen walking to his car with his security personnel, while on his way to attend an event in an island.
Police officers conducted an operation across Malé and Hulhumalé on Saturday to find the perpetrators behind detonating an IED in the center of the capital city on Thursday. Two suspects, both men, were arrested during the operation.
During a press conference on Saturday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Riyaz confirmed the identity of the two suspects; Mujaz Ahmed, 21 (NID: A370231), native of the capital city and Thahumeen Ahmed, 32 (NID: A306408), native of Kondey island in Gaaf Alif atoll. Their arrest came under a court order and their residences were also raided.
The issue of violent extremism in the Maldives remains a matter of concern, with Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed addressing the issue at Saturday's presser.
As such, he noted that over the years, the police have been made aware that there were individuals linked to extremism and extremist ideologies within Maldivian communities, who could be perceived a national threat.
The two suspects arrested on Saturday are believed to fall under this category.
