Presidential speedboat taken to Aarah for investigation

The presidential speedboat Finifenma has been taken to Aarah for the investigation, following an explosion on board on Monday.

Police spokesperson Ismail Ali said that the investigation is under way with assistance from foreign experts who arrived yesterday.

A nine-member forensic team from Saudi Arabia and a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent are in the Maldives for this investigation.

Last night, Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said in a statement that the incident is being investigated as a very serious matter.

The five crew members of the speedboat have been summoned and questioned by police.

President Abdulla Yameen was scheduled to address the media upon arrival in Malé after the hajj pilgrimage. As the speedboat approached Izzuddin Jetty in Malé, however, there was an explosion on board which left three people injured.

The President was unharmed. First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim suffered four spine fractures, and has been advised by doctors to take bed rest for three weeks.

In addition to the president's wife, his bodyguard and a staff of the President’s Office suffered burns in the incident.