MDP: Failure to declare state of emergency ‘concerning’

Main ruling party MDP said on Sunday that it finds the failure to delcare a state of emergency as an immediate action in face of heightened threat of terrorism in Maldives as issue of deep concern. 

In a statement expressing conern over a bomb threat message written on a pillar of Masjid Al-Noor in Male’ City, MDP said that the case underscores the extent to which extremism has spread in Maldives, and the threat it poses to the Maldivian people. 

“Given that the Disappearances and Deaths Commission, in its investigative report, noted that some extremist leaders propegate their ideologies and conduct operations in collaboration with international terror organizations in several mosques, including Masjid Al-Noor, we find that such a threat being written in the mosque opens room for suspicion security services have failed to conduct proper survaillance and investigations despite that,” said MDP in its statement. 

MDP also expressed concern that the threat comes as the investigation into the assasination attempt on Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed on May 6 remains open. 

The party also alleged that given mosques are holy sites, the threat was written by terrorists preparing for an attack. 

MDP called on security services to take action to protect Maldives from terror attacks. 

The threat was found written in Dhivehi language on a pillar of Masjid Al-Noor, located in Henveiru district of Male’ City, earlier this Sunday. 

The message read that “bangaalhees” - a deregotary term used to refer to Bangladeshi workers – are far more powerful in Maldives.  

“We will do what we want. We will detonate a bomb soon. We will destroy Maldives,” reads the message.  

Police confirmed they have received reports of the threat, and said they are conducting necessary inquiries.