Maldives rejects FBI report on blast

MALÉ (Maldives): The Maldives government yesterday insisted its president had survived an assassination attempt on his boat even though the FBI found no evidence of a bomb blast that led to the arrest of his deputy.

President Abdulla Yameen was unharmed in an explosion on his speedboat on Sept 28 that slightly injured his wife and was described by authorities as an attempt on the leader’s life.

Police arrested vice-president Ahmed Adeeb almost a month later for treason, fuelling fears of fresh political turmoil in the honeymoon islands after a series of sackings of senior government officials.

Home Minister Umar Naseer said he had received a report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which found no evidence that a bomb caused the explosion.

In KUALA LUMPUR, police said on Saturday a Maldivian diplomat believed to have been involved in the plot to assassinate Yameen had been arrested here.

The 47-year-old official was detained at a condominium in the city by officers from the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division on Wednesday.

Four other Maldives nationals – two men and two women – who are believed to be the suspect’s accomplices, were also detained.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the diplomat was believed to have been involved in the plot.

“All the suspects were deported to Maldives on Oct 30,” Khalid said in a statement. “The arrest was possible based on cooperation with Maldives’ authorities.”