The meeting of the Parliament’s Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee) to examine the implementation of the Inquiry Report compiled by Committee in connection to the May 6 terror attack on Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed was held behind closed doors reports Sun Online.v
The inquiry report the Committee found had seen negligence by many; including that of Defense Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi and Home Minister Imran Abdulla.
The report has made 45 recommendations – which apart from general security to Nasheed has provided for Defense Intelligence Service to be upgraded, harmonized data system as soon as possible, through which Maldives National Defense Force, the police and other institutions declared on the Counter-Terrorism Act can exchange intelligence on matters that may threaten national security as per Sun Online
At the same time the report recommends expedition of the implementation of whole government approach and whole society approach to curb the spread of extremism in Maldives, and for Islamic Ministry, Youth Ministry, and Gender Ministry to pay special attention to matters under their purview in the efforts to counter terrorism and extremism under the policies.
Background
A homemade remote-controlled IED was strapped to a motorcycle parked nearby former President and Speaker of the National Assembly (Majlis) Mohmmad Nasheed's residence and was detonated at 08:27 pm on May 6, just as he exited his residence and went to get in his car. Nasheed was thrown to the ground and sustained multiple shrapnel wounds, while three members of his security detail and two bystanders sustained minor wounds as per details provided by Sun Online.
Police arrested 10 suspects in connection to the case, and requested the Prosecutor General's Office for charges against 5 suspects. The terror cell involved in the attack made prior attempts to assassinate Nasheed by strapping the same motorcycle used in the May 6 attack with an IED and parking it outside the residence of his spouse, Laila Ahmed as per Sun Online.
Suspects involved in the attack believe Nasheed to be an apostate who openly mocks the religion of Islam and Prophet Mohamed, and that killing him to be justified. While they found evidence suggesting the suspects to be ISIS sympathizers, police said that there was no evidence directly linking them with the international terror organization as per Sun online.
Investigations have revealed that Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed, 26, of Hiyaa, V. Thinadhoo, Mujaz Ahmed, 21, Ma. Feyruge, K. Male' , Thahmeen Ahmed, 32, Folheyma, GA. Kondey and Ali Haisham, 27, Nooreege, N. Manadhoo were part of the plot. Haisham has signed a plea deal with the State with three charges; conspiracy to carry out an act of terrorism, aiding in transporting an explosive, and participating in carrying out an act of terrorism based on evidence he met with other suspects at a tea shop in Hulhumale' to "sanction" Nasheed's assassination, and was actively involved in strapping an IED to the motorcycle used in the attack. Police found both Thahmeen and Haisham's DNA on the IED as per Sun Online.
Investigations on state failure were undertaken through a parliamentary committee known as the 241 Committee. While 241 committee report shows institutional failure in the May 6 attack, it calls to improve the country's security services including by appointing a national security advisor to instruct the President on security-related issues. 38 out of the 45 recommendations in the inquiry report by the Parliament's committee on national security services are in the process of being implemented. This was revealed during a meeting between President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the National Security Council (NSC) as per Rajje MV.
Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed has appointed a British Queen's Counsel (QC) member to represent him and monitor and work on the criminal investigation into the IED attack targeting him on May 6. Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Eva Abdulla has called on the committee on national security services, or the 241 committee, to assess whether Maldives faces any dangers due to the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker, former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed (R), in an interview with India's Times Now on August 17, 2021, stated that, "Extremist communities throughout South Asia will welcome this change in Afghanistan. The Taliban taking over and therefore for the extremists to have a safe haven for them to plan, for them to train, and for them to attack communities within South Asia."
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