Aim was to perform jihad by targeting non Muslims - police

08 November 2007
Report: Uken


The aim of the Sultan Park explosion carried out on the 29 September 2007 was to carry out jihad by targeting non Muslims said Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz.

“The aim of the Sultan Park explosion is to carry out jihad by targeting non Muslims, the people who carried out the explosion believes that jihad can be carried out even in Maldives, there are 2 person who had expressed their desire to carry out Jihad and were banned from traveling abroad among those who carried out the explosion” said Riyaz speaking at a press briefing held yesterday at the police headquarters.

He said in addition to the two fugitives wanted in connection with explosion, 8 more are now wanted. All of them have gone to Karachi via Sri Lanka said Riyaz.

“The 2 fugitives we were initially looking for have left the country, Abdul Latheef Ibrahim age 24 of L.Kalaidhoo left Maldives on the 17 of September, Ali Shameem age 25 of Sh. Komandoo left Maldives on the 22 of September, these 2 were barred from traveling abroad as they had expressed their desire to carry out jihad, however they left Maldives with the help Warahumath Ahmed of M. Radium Kokaa, an Immigration Officer sympathetic to their cause; we have taken Warahumath Ahmed in to our custody” said Riyaz.

The additional 8 who are now wanted with regard to the Sultan Park probe are Hassan Yousuf age 26 of Mirusmaage / L.Kalhaidhoo, Mohamed Amin age 23 of Kariyaage / Maathadu / Fuvahmulak, Hassan Riyaz age 21 of Dazy Villa / Haa Dhaalu Nehlhaidhoo, Mohamed Iqbal age 38 of M. Naseemee Villa / Male’, Mohamed Imadh age 27 of Amaaz / B. Dharavandhoo , Ibrahim Maslamath age 31 of Ma.Gold Ring / Male’, Hussain Shimadh age 25/ B. Dharavandhoo and Moosa Manik age 20 of Harudhulaage / S. Hithadhoo.

Maldives police say that although the wanted 10 left Maldives before the homemade bomb was detonated, they are wanted as the police have enough evidence of their involvement in the attack and that they will be prosecuted under the law. In this regard police have already requested Attorney General to initiate procedures to try them in court.

“There are people who supported the perpetrators financially, there are people who support them in Pakistan and in Sri Lanka, the key perpetrators of the explosion studied in Pakistan and trained in such activities as forging ID’s, the kind of support and assistance they are receiving cannot be revealed at this point in time “ said Assistant Commissioner Riyaz.

Riyaz said the case of 6 people arrested in connection with the explosion has been sent to Attorney General for prosecution under the law on the 4 of this month and include an 18 year old youth.

Although the police declined to reveal the identity of the minor, the other 5 are identified as Ahmed Naseer, age 20 of Saadhunaa Manzil / Ga. Kaduhulhudhoo, Moosa Inaz age 21 of Finihiyaage of L.Kalhaidhoo , Mohamed Sobah age 19 of Landhooaage , Mohamed Hussain age 32 of Harudhulaage / S. Hithadhoo and Mohamed Fazeel age 28 of Kunaaruge of Dhaalu Ribudhoo.

At the press briefing Police showed a cctv footage taken at the airport on the days these the 2 fugitives, Abdul Latheef Ibrahim and Ali Shameem left the country, the footage showed on both days Warahmath was at the Immigration counter to help them.

Police also showed a video saved on the computer hard disk of Mohamed Sobah, the key perpetrator at the press briefing. The video was taken while the bomb was being prepared.