Former President Mohamed Nasheed injured in explosion

Shamaal asserted that he did not believe speculations that the attempt on former president Mohamed Nasheed's life was an inside job. Shamaal guaranteed that this was not the case, and that they had received no information to support that accusation.

MNDF confirmed that armed officers would now be active across different parts of the country, and that an increase alert status had been issued nationwide for officers.

Major General Shamaal said that MNDF had received intelligence of another explosive device in the area, from which point officers had proceeded to evacuate civilians as the bomb squad was deployed. However, officers realized that the intelligence had been a false report at the scene, and that no other explosives had been found.

Major General Shamaal stated that the intelligence report had been attended to swiftly as acts of terror involving explosive devices are usually executed as multiple simultaneous bombings.

Major General Shamaal said that relevant authorities had received a prior complaint from Speaker Nasheed's team, regarding vehicles parked on the side of the narrow Neeloofaaru street. Shamaal said that the attack on Speaker Nasheed's life had come before a permit was issued to make the street a no-parking zone so that Speaker Nasheed's home and the surrounding area could be secured. Major General Shamaal said that the MNDF had always operated knowing Speaker Nasheed was a high-risk target, and that they were always working to further strengthen his security detail.

Shamaal stated in the press that former president and Speaker of Parliament was afforded one of the strongest security details in the country, and that his CP team operated while armed to ensure his safety. Shamaal said that these steps had been taken as the state's intelligence was constantly aware of threats and dangers to Speaker Nasheed's life, and that his security detail was developed around various threat-neutralization measures.

Chief of Defense Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal confirms that Speaker Nasheed had departed from his home at 8:25pm with security to attend a ceremony at an island.

Speaker Nasheed had walked to Majeedhee Magu, one of the cities major streets, and was entering his car when the explosion occurred.

Major General Abdulla Shamaal revealed that an Improvised Explosive Device, or an IED, had been used to target Speaker Nasheed, and that the device had been attached to a motorbike, with most of its impact tracked upwards. Shamaal said that the device had exploded in close proximity with an oncoming car from the corner of the street at 8:27pm on Thursday night.

The IED was detonated by command or remote, just as Speaker Nasheed was about to enter his car.

The explosion had been from Speaker Nasheed's left, and had occured while he was entering his car. One security officer had opened the car door, while the other flanked former president Nasheed as he boarded the vehicle. The Speaker had been knocked by the explosion, following which his security detail attempted to carry Speaker Nasheed into the car and drive him to safety. When the car failed to start, the officers had carried him to a back-up vehicle, and had transported president Nasheed to ADK Hospital within seven minutes.

Chief of Defense Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal stated that three MNDF officers had been severely injured in the attack. He also added that Speaker Nasheed's bodyguards had refused treatment until his status was clear. Shamaal said that he was very satisfied with their performance in assuring Speaker Nasheed's safety during the crisis.

Minister of Defense Mariya Ahmed Didi revealed that former president Mohamed Nasheed's bodyguards had, despite being injured by the explosion themselves, prioritized Speaker Nasheed's safety.

Minister Mariya said that it was important to draw attention to how they had acted in defense of Maldivian citizens and leaders of the country. Mariya added that the officers on scene had embodied their training well as the situation had developed.

This had been evident in the officer's accounts of the events, which displayed a critical attention for time. The explosion had occurred at precisely 8:27pm on Thursday night, according to official MNDF sources. Despite accounts of chaos on the scene following the blast, former president Mohamed Nasheed had been taken to the Emergency Room at ADK Hospital in under ten minutes, at precisely 8:36pm.

Minister of Defense Mariya Ahmed Didi said that MNDF officers had described repeatedly confirming the president's status as he was transported to the hospital from the explosion site. Speaker Nasheed had reportedly said he was doing well as he was rushed into emergency.

Minister of Defense and National Security Mariya Ahmed Didi said at the press that parties with information regarding the attempt on former president Nasheed's life come forward, and that now was the time for the nation to band together in finding those responsible. Minister Mariya asserted that even the smallest information would be vital to the massive investigation being conducted into the explosion in Male' City on Thursday night, that left former president Mohamed Nasheed and four others with injuries.

The People's Majlis on Friday evening ended the emergency sitting of parliament held following an attack on Speaker of Parliament and former president Mohamed Nasheed.

Deputy Speaker and MP for the North-Galolhu constituency Eva Abdulla assured that all functions of the People's Majlis would proceed until Speaker Nasheed returned.

ADK Hospital has revealed that Speaker Nasheed remains in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), after 16 hours of surgery.

The final, critical, life-saving procedure was carried out successfully on Friday afternoon.

The hospital revealed that Nasheed had life-saving surgeries conducted for injuries to his head, chest, limbs and abdomen over the past 16 hours.

Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed has concluded the press conference, stating that the Maldives Police Service would be sharing further details of the investigation as it progressed.

CP Hameed asserted strongly that the case was still a developing one, and that he would not be entertaining any speculation before the investigation concluded.

The Maldives Police Service have assured that they will be employing their full power behind investigating the attack on former president Mohamed Nasheed's life. 450 Police officers are to be active as part of the operation across the Maldives.

Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed has assured that it would not be necessary to announce a state of emergency, as security measures had been increased across the Maldives in order to prevent any further attacks in relation to the explosion that targeted former president and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Riyaz revealed that preliminary assessments showed military-grade explosives had likely not been used in the attack. However, ACP Riyaz added that the explosives used had the potential of seriously harming those in the vicinity.

ACP Riyaz added that the due to the scale and scope of the attack, it could correctly be classified as an act of terror under the law.

Noting that the police institution hasn’t established a motive behind the attack yet, CP Hameed said that they will look into intelligence failings as to why such conspiracies were not detected within the police network.

CP Hameed assured that the relevant authorities will conduct thorough investigations and answer to the public accordingly.

Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed and Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Riyaz are hosting a press briefing presently.

Responding to a question, ACP Riyaz stated that they had not received any specific intelligence information from international bodies before the attack.

Highlighting that travel advisories are issued periodically, ACP Riyaz noted that there was no specific tip off regarding the attack.

Police are yet to identify anyone who has publicly and officially taken responsibility for the terrorism attack on the speaker.

During the ongoing presser, CP Hameed revealed that there has been no input from the Police Intelligence into the findings.

ACP Riyaz notes that some facts need to be analyzed before further details can be shared regarding the findings.

CP Hameed revealed that their findings into the explosion attack so far have been forwarded to the Prosecutor General, Hussain Shameem

Maldives is working to acquire technical support from international bodies and relevant authorities in investigating the explosion attack.

This was revealed by CP Hameed during the ongoing press conference, where he revealed that the authorities have so far identified four suspects in connection to the blast

During the ongoing presser, CP Hameed noted that the explosion attack targeting Speaker Nasheed is the police institution's biggest priority

Maldives Police Service is currently preparing to hold a press conference regarding Thursday evening's explosion attack on the former president.

The press briefing, hosted by Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed and Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Riyaz, will commence shortly.

MP for north-Maafannu constituency, Imthiyaz Fahmy has asserted that the explosion attack was a direct attack to take Nasheed's life.

Stressing that the country's name will be soiled due to such acts of terror, the MP said that the attack was not just on Nasheed, but on the entire population of Maldives.

In a statement released a little past 1pm, Maldives Police Service revealed that they are investigating Thursday evening's explosion attack as an act of terrorism that targeted Speaker Nasheed.

As such, police revealed that all services under the investigative bodies and forensics are being used in the investigation, and that two officials from the Australian Federal Police will arrive in the Maldives on Saturday to join the probe.

Two UNODC officials are also assisting the police institution in their investigation.

Police have urged the public to contact them through 9704000 if they have any information regarding the explosion and have assured that confidentiality will be upheld.