Court releases 5 suspects arrested in Addu counter-terror op

The court has released five suspects arrested by police in a crackdown on religious extremism in Addu City earlier this May.

Police arrested eight suspects from Addu. The court previously ordered them to be remanded in custody of the police for 15 days.

However, five of the suspects were released when presented before the court for their second remand hearing this Sunday.

The police have not disclosed details regarding the case, but said that the investigation against the suspects will continue despite their release.

In addition to Addu City, police have also made multiple arrests in Male’ City in a crackdown on religious extremism in the wake of the IED attack targeting Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed on May 6, when a homemade remote-controlled IED strapped to motorcycle parked nearby Nasheed’s residence, and was detonated 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.