In this file photo dated Feb 14, 2019, former Maldives president and current parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed delivers a lecture on climate change in New Delhi, India. Nasheed has been injured in a blast on May 6, 2021 near his home and was being treated in a hospital in the capital, police said. (MANISH SWARUP / FILE, AP)
MALE – The Maldives Police Service (MPS) on Friday said that there were four persons of interest identified in the investigations into an attack on Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.
The MPS in a press conference in capital Male said that investigations were underway into four suspects who were acting suspiciously in the vicinity of an explosion that injured Nasheed on Thursday evening. The MPS said that further information on the suspects could not be revealed.
Commissioner of Police Mohammed Hameed was quoted in Sun Online saying that no intelligence was received prior to the attack on Nasheed. Hameed described the attack as a deliberate act of terror.
Commissioner Hameed said that a total of five people were injured in the attack, including Nasheed, three bodyguards and a British tourist. Hameed said that 450 officers were involved in the investigations and urged eyewitnesses to share information via a police hotline.
Maldives President Ibrahim Solih, in his first official statement since an attack on parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed earlier Thursday, said that an investigation into the attack is underway.
He (Maldives' parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed) is currently being treated by a multi-specialty medical team. His vitals are currently stable.
Maldives' ADK Hospital's official Twitter account
"We are treating this matter with utmost seriousness and the investigation is currently underway," Solih said on his official Twitter account. Solih said that Nasheed was receiving treatment for his injuries in the ADK Hospital in Male.
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The ADK Hospital said that Nasheed was admitted with injuries at 8:30 pm on Thursday. "He is currently being treated by a multi-specialty medical team. His vitals are currently stable," the hospital's official Twitter account said.
Meanwhile, the Maldives will receive assistance from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in its investigations into the explosion targeting Nasheed, Solih said on Friday.
Soldiers secure a site after a bomb blast injured former Maldives president and current parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed in Male on May 6, 2021.
(AFP)
In a special televised address held Friday morning, Solih said the AFP will arrive in Maldives on Saturday. He said there would be a "swift and thorough" investigation and that the attackers would "face the full force of the law."
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Solih said the attack on Nasheed which occurred on Thursday was an attack on the Maldives's democracy and economy. He said that all measures were being taken to protect the safety and security of the people.