President: Bomb making equipment found in the residences of the arrested

President Abdulla Yamin Abdul Gayoom has said that bomb making equipment was found in the residences of the people who were arrested in the investigation of the explosion on board the Presidential Launch.

In the Presidential Address this morning, the President said that in the search operation of the Presidential Launch explosion, bomb making equipment was found in the houses that were searched, and that is why the Vice President Adheeb had to be arrested.

“The reason for the Vice President’s isolation is because some bomb making equipment was found in the search of the houses of the people who have been arrested. These are things found in the investigation.” President said.

The President said that with the evidence showing as such, and it is proven that a bomb was used on the Launch, for the safety of the whole Malé City, searching houses has become an obligation and so if a house is being suspected, that house will be searched.

In the investigation of the Presidential Launch explosion, Police and MNDF have been searching a lot of houses. And so, at some of the houses were searched by armed MNDF officers yesterday.

Sharing the challenges in the investigation, President Yamin said that some have tried to destroy evidence and when the Police go with a court order, their searches have been obstructed. And so when the Police arrive with the court order, the owners of the places already know that they are coming.

“A number of evidence that we could have had has been destroyed.” The President said.

He said that the people that have been arrested so far were absolutely necessary to be arrested and said that it has been discovered by the Police that those checking the launch following the explosion did some things that should not do.