Police probe ‘last warning’ to release arrestees in counter-terrorism operation

Maldives Police Service, on Sunday, revealed that they are probing a ‘last warning’ given to release the suspects arrested from Addu City in a joint counter-terrorism conducted by the Police and Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) back in November.

Posters of the warning, demanding the release of the suspects were put up in different areas of Addu City on Sunday.

The posters threatened to ‘shock’ Addu City, and demanded the release of suspects without going for bloodshed.

“This is the last warning,” the poster also read.

Police, when questioned regarding the posters, confirmed being made aware of them. They said that they were investigating the warnings.

The operation was launched on November 7, at Addu City, Male City and K. Guraidhoo.

A total of 14 people were arrested during this operation; 10 from Addu City, two from Male’ City and two from Guraidhoo. Police identified all the suspects as Maldivian men.

One of the men, by an order of High Court, was released on December 12. However, he was shortly rearrested and remanded in custody pending outcome of trial.

Police, in an earlier statement, said that suspects were plotting to carry out a mass casualty terror attack in the Maldives using explosives in collaboration with the world terrorist organization, Islamic State (IS).