Maldives police say key suspect in Nasheed attack arrested

9/5/2021 19:36

        Maldives police said Sunday they arrested a person believed to be the prime suspect in an explosion that critically wounded the country's former president and which was blamed on Muslim extremists.
        
        Police said they now have three of four suspects in custody.
        
        Thursday's blast targeted Mohamed Nasheed, currently the speaker of Parliament, who is recovering in a hospital after multiple surgeries.
        
        Police did not give details on the latest suspect or his background,
        
        but in a text message confirmed that they believe he is the person whose pictures were released Saturday as authorities sought public assistance identifying him.
        
        The fourth suspect remains at large.
        
        Officials blamed Islamic extremists for the attack, although investigators still don't know which group was responsible.
        
        Two of Nasheed's bodyguards and two apparent bystanders, including a British citizen, were also wounded.