Malé, Maldives – West Henveyru and the Chairperson of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Hassan Latheef has called out to the government to give the May 6, 2021 IED attack investigation updates directly to Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed.
Speaking at a press conference held by MDP last night, MP Hassan Latheef stated that it was crucial for Speaker Nasheed, who is in Germany for rehabilitation and recovery following the attack, to get the investigation updates from Maldives Police Service directly and called out to Commissioner of Police, Mohamed Hameed to provide the information directly.
This comes while Speaker Nasheed has raised his concerns of having to get the investigation updates of the assassination attempt on him through the President’s Office. MP Hassan Latheef also stated last night that they had requested CP Hameed to give the informations to Speaker Nasheed without a middleman.
Following Speaker Nasheed’s concern on not getting the information directly, President’s Office had reveled that Maldives Police Service was providing the investigation updates to Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Eva Abdulla, National Security Services committee (commonly known as 241 committee) of Parliament and separate parliamentarians.
While MDP held the press conference to reassure their members that the investigation was being monitored closely by the party, leaders of the party have raised their concerns stating that the investigation was too slow and that the progress rate was not acceptable.
This also comes while MDP members and social media activists supporting Speaker Nasheed have started an online campaign calling to find out who funded the attack made on Speaker Nasheed with the hashtag #JusticeForPresidentNasheed.
While four suspects have been so far arrested in connection to the terror attack, Police had revealed that an additional person was arrested in connection to the attack yesterday from Hulhumalé but did not give any further details. The individuals who are reported to be radicalized are identified by the police as Ahmed Fathih, Dhunfini Ufaa, L. Gan, Ahmed Adhuham aged 25, Mujaaz Ahmed of MA. Feyruge aged 21, and Thahmeen Ahmed of Folheyma, GA. Kondey, aged 32. The three were also sentenced to 15 days imprisonment by the Criminal Court.
Police allege that these individuals are radicalized and have initialized a crackdown on extremist in the Maldives. Maldives Police arrested a 27-year-old Maldivian male in connection to the crackdown on Thursday.
In addition, a total of nine individuals were arrested from the southernmost Addu City atoll for being a part of or for supporting violent extremist ideologies and five residences have been searched in Malé in ongoing operations.
The IED explosion went off around 20:20 on 6 May leaving Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed critically injured while he was getting in to his car near his house, G. Kenereege, Malé City. In addition to him, 3 more people were also been reported to be injured from the explosion including the Speaker’s bodyguards and bystanders.
Nasheed was brought in with heavy bleeding, and both internal and external shrapnel injuries. Ball bearings were found in Nasheed’s chest, near the heart. Injuries caused by these projectiles caused life threatening damage to the chest area. Nasheed endured major injury to the fourth rib, with a blade going through a lung. A projectile also went through his intestine with another near his liver.
Speaker Nasheed was treated at the Critical Care Unit of ADK hospital in Malé until yesterday and was airlifted to Germany yesterday for recovery and rehabilitation. Parliament had revealed yesterday that Speaker Nasheed’s medical expenses in Germany is being covered by Honorary Consul of Maldives in Germany, Christian Von Stetten.
