MALE, Maldives, Oct. 24 (UPI) — The vice president of Maldives was arrested on a treason charge in connection to an alleged assassination attempt on the country’s president.
Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor was arrested Saturday at the airport as he was returning from an official visit to China and taken to a detention center on the Indian Ocean archipelago. The 33-year-old is suspected of “involvement in the bomb blast” on Sept. 28 that injured first lady Fathimath Ibrahim and two others. President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom was not injured in the blast.
“Vice President Ahmed Adheeb has been arrested under a warrant for the investigation into the blast on the presidential speedboat,” police said.
Police said they have gathered evidence in the blast, but declined to give further details. The country’s army and police force have been deployed to lockdown the capital city as the nation braces for turmoil following the arrest.
“Security of Male has been tightened. Police won’t allow any violence in the capital city. Both police and the army will be deployed to patrol the streets of Male,” Abdulla Nawaz, an assistant police commissioner, said.
Adeeb said earlier this month, “I strongly deny these allegations and will remain steadfastly loyal” to the president, adding “accusations like these circulate every time an incident happens in this country.”
Yameen and his administration have faced sharp criticism from the United Nations and human-rights groups after his predecessor, Mohammad Nasheed, was prosecuted and imprisoned in March for ordering the arrest of a judge. The U.N. said Nasheed’s trial was politically motivated.
