Maldives Says Attackers Will Be Found, Punished

The President says people responsible for today's attack will be found and punished under the law

The President of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has reiterated the Governments commitment to bring the perpetrators of yesterday's criminal act of aggression to justice. 'This is the first time that we have suffered such a terrorist attack in the Maldives. The people responsible for this act must be found. The Government with the grace of almighty Allah will find them and they will be punished under law."

The President expressed this while visiting the hospital yesterday to show his support and concern to the victims and their families.

"I also want to say that our feelings are with the victims of the incident. We wish them a very speedy recovery."

The President linked yesterday's incident to the people calling for a tourism boycott in the Maldives and said that, those irresponsible politicians were alerting every evil minded person that tourism was a good target to hit in order to hurt the Government. "They also have to share some responsibilities for what happened today, because they have been jeopardizing the stability and peace of the country and our economic benefits for political gain. I think that is a very selfish and irresponsible thing to do. They have to take part of the blame for what happened today."

The incident happened when a device went off at 2.36pm yesterday injuring twelve foreign nationals. The injured include two British nationals who sustained significant burns, while eight Chinese and two Japanese suffered minor burns and injury caused by flying shrapnel. All were immediately taken to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and ADK hospital for treatment. All except the British nationals have now been discharged from hospital.

The Maldives Police Service and the Maldives National Defense Force have launched a joint investigation into the incident. Two persons have been arrested so far.

A key ministerial group has been instituted to discuss and take decisions on the next steps to be taken in relation to the incident.

The Government of Maldives has always condemned acts of aggression and terror wherever they are perpetrated.

ENDS

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