Police: Activities that encourage terrorism will not be tolerated

Police have said that activities that encourage terrorism will not be tolerated and will be obstructed by police officers.

At a press conference by the Specialist Operations (SO) Department of Maldives Police Service at Iskandar Koshi on Tuesday, 21 April 2015, Head of SO Sub-inspector of Police Hussain Azham said that that police will intervene and put an end to all activities that encourage terrorism.

He said that SO has attended and managed protests on 35 occasions so far this year, during which only pepper spray has been used as a force option.

Items such as tear gas, riot gun, and thunderflash have not been used to break up any protest this year, said Azham.

He said that pepper spray has been used 29 times, and stressed that police have only used force to the level called for by the situation.

Azham further informed that 1,887 locations have been searched, 227 people have been frisked, 614 people have been given advice and released, and 82 people have been arrested so far this year.

Speaking at the press conference, Deputy Head of SO Sub-inspector of Police Ibrahim Ahmed assured that police will do everything possible within the boundaries of the Constitution and the laws, to ensure internal security and peace and order in the country.