Wednesday
30th Oct 2024
Dhivehi Edition
MP Hassan Latheef.
Former Chairperson of ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Hassan Latheef has claimed that the administration had prior knowledge of the 2021 terror attack on Parliament Speaker former President Mohamed Nasheed.
Hassan Latheef, Member of Parliament for West Henveyru Constituency, made the claim in a program of state media. The terror attack on Nasheed occurred on May 6, 2021.
Hassan said that it was evident from the investigation that the perpetrators had to have motive, capability, and opportunity to carry out the attack. He referred to how various terror groups planned and executed their attacks. Experts, he said, had noted that the only way to prevent these attacks would be to limit Nasheed’s exposure and reach to such attacks.
Hassan went on to say that there were five aspects to note in the case to support his hypothesis. From the investigation, he said there were warnings and information of an imminent attack and that the government was more than aware of this.
The investigation, he added, had also proven that cash had exchanged in 2019, adding that the government was aware of this transaction and the attempts to purchase weapons. Hassan added that there also were public calls to take Nasheed’s life. He said that authorities knew that the IED would be planted on a motorcycle.
Therefore, Hassan said that there was no room to deny that the government had no knowledge of the attack and had failed to take action.
The attack took place around 2039 on May 6, 2021. Nasheed sustained severe injuries. He was treated at ADK Hospital and later sought out treatment in Germany. Also injured were two of Nasheed's bodyguards and two bystanders, one of whom was a British national. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Three days later the prime suspect, identified from video footage, was arrested, along with two others. They all had denied the charges.