Male’, Maldives – Maldives Police Service last night informed that extremists have been planning a terror attack against Speaker Nasheed since 2019 and has even attempted the attack three times.
Speaking at the press conference held on Saturday night, Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed revealed that the extremists have been planning a terror attack against Speaker Nasheed since 2019 and that they even begun physical work of attempting the attack since the end of last December.
The attack on May 06 was their third attempt.
Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed
Giving details of how the planning of an attack against Speaker Nasheed began, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mohamed Riyaz stated that the cycle used in the attack was bought in 2019 and they had previously attempted to initiate the attack near Speaker Nasheed’s previous residence, M. Yaagooth as well.
Assistant Commissioner Riyaz stated that they have received information that they attempted to initiate the attack four times at that area by attaching the IED to that cycle, even if it meant that their lives would be at risk. However, as they faced difficulties in initiating the attack in that area, the cycle and the IED was later taken.
Assistant Commissioner Riyaz informed that the second attack was planned to be initiated while Speaker Nasheed leaves for his exercise. The extremists planned to park the cycle with the IED near the Marybrown Restaurent that Speaker Nasheed passes. However, Assistant Commissioner Riyaz stated that they later inspected the place and discussed hat the attack cannot be initiated properly considering the area, hence, decided that the attack cannot be initiated there either.
The plan to attack Speaker Nasheed on May 06, near his house, Canareege began in March, 2021. Assistant Commissioner Riyaz stated that for this, the investigation reveals that they had even serviced and prepared the cycle from a garage in Hulhumale’.
Assistant Commissioner Riyaz also stated that through the investigation they have received enough evidence that the IED was attached in the cycle by a suspect that was arrested regarding the case, Ali Haisham and that it was attached three days prior to the attack on May 06.
Police stated that even though their lives could be at risk, the extremists were prepared to murder Speaker Nasheed through that attack.
