MayTerrorAttack: 241 Committee to release inquiry report before Thursday

Motorcycle which exploded tonight leaving Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed critically injured | Photo: Mihaaru

Malé, Maldives – The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (241 Committee) MP Mohamed Aslam, today, said that the May 6 terror attack inquiry report will be released next week.

MP Aslam has previously said that the committee’s stance in the parliamentary investigation into the terror attack against Former President and Current Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed on May 6 is to publicise as much information as possible.

While the 241 Committee aimed to release the report by end of June 2021, the nature of the inquiry has lead to some delays. A draft has been created and the committee will work through the weekend to release it next week, MP Aslam said speaking to local news “Adhadhu”.

The 241 Committee Chair does not expect any major changes to the content during the discussions regarding the draft.

Our hope is to release the report before the final Parliamentary meeting for this session on Thursday, [8 July 2021]

The 241 Committee inquiry has summoned over 50 people, which is a record in the history of Maldives Parliament.

This includes, Defence Minister Mariya Didi, Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdullah Shamaal and Vice Chief of Defence Force Brigadier General Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef from the Defence Forces.

The committee has also summoned several other authorities and personnel to the committee for questioning regarding the May terror attack. This includes Home Minister Imran Abdullah, Director General of Counter Terrorism Center Brigadier General Zakariyya Mansoor, Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed, Police Director of Counter Terrorism Superintendent of Police Fareed Ismail as well as Speaker Nasheed’s bodyguards.

In addition, top officials from Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) were summoned to the 241 Committee Parliamentary inquiry including Governor of MMA Ali Hashim, Deputy Governor of MMA Ahmed Imad as well as Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit Ibrahim Ahmed Nasir.

The police are also currently investigating the attack on the Former President. 5 individuals have been arrested so far in direct connection to May 6, all of them indicating radicalisation.

The 241 Parliamentary Committee is also investigating into the security breach of the Speaker following the terror attack. Speaker Nasheed remains in Germany after he was released from the German medical hospital on May 21, where he went for recovery and rehabilitation for the injuries suffered on May 6, 2021.

The IED explosion went off around 20:20 on 6 May leaving Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed critically injured while he was getting into his car near his house, G. Kenereege, Malé City. In addition to the Speaker, 3 more people were also been reported to be injured from the explosion including the Speaker’s bodyguards and bystanders.