TM: "Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed Narrowly Avoids Assassination: A Political Conspiracy or Islamic State Plot?"

On May 6, Maldives’ Speaker of Parliament and former President Mohamed Nasheed was seriously injured in an assassination attempt outside his home in the capital, Male. The improvised explosive device (IED) blast also wounded members of his security team and bystanders, including a foreign national. Although jihadists elements remain the primary suspect for the attempt on Nasheed’s life, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Maldivian security agencies have not made any statements on the matter but indicated that the attack was possibly the work of Islamist extremists (Hindustan Times,  May 9). Three suspects identified were Mujaaz Ahmed, Thahumeen Ahmed, and Ahmed Adhuham from the Male and Hulhumale areas. They were arrested during initial security operations based on closed-circuit television footage from the blast site and were taken into custody. They have since denied involvement in the attack on Nasheed (One Online, May 9). On May 19, another suspect, Ahmed Fathih, was arrested from Dharavandhoo in connection with the explosion. According to police, he parked the IED-laden vehicle that targeted Nasheed, and forensic evidence collected from the site suggested his involvement in the blast. (Times of Addu, May 20). 

For the Complete Article, Read, "Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed Narrowly Avoids Assassination: A Political Conspiracy or Islamic State Plot?" Terrorism Monitor, (Jamestown Foundation), Volume XIX (10), May 24, 2021