4 suspects accused of plotting a terror attack

The four men who were recently arrested in counter-terror operations in Maldivian capital are suspected by police of conspiracy to carry out a terror attack.

The four suspects have been remanded in custody of the police for 15 days by the court.

Police believe the four suspects hold separate communal prayers, support a terrorist organization, and are involved in propagating extremist ideologies and recruiting people for militant activities overseas in the name of ‘jihad’.

They are also suspected of conspiring to carry out a terror attack which could compromise the safety of the community and result in grievous harm.

Police have yet to confirm whether the four suspects are linked with the IED attack targeting Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed on May 6.

A homemade remote-controlled IED was strapped to motorcycle parked nearby Nasheed’s residence, and was detonated at 08:27 pm on May 6, just as Nasheed, 54, exited his residence and went to get in his car. Nasheed was thrown to the ground and sustained multiple shrapnel wounds, while three members of his security detail and two bystanders sustained minor wounds.

Police are treating the case as a targeted terror attack to assassinate Nasheed, and have confirmed four arrests in connection to the case: Ahmed Adhuham Rasheed, 26, Hiyaa, GDh. Thinadhoo; Mujaz Ahmed, 21, Ma. Feyruge, K. Male’; Thahmeen Ahmed, 32, Folheyma, GA. Kondey; and Ahmed Fathih, 23, Dhunfiniufaa, L. Gan. Adhuham is believed to be the man who detonated the IED.

The attack has also spurred the security forces to launch a crackdown on violent extremism, in which multiple arrests have been made in the capital and Addu City.