Law enforcement agencies are investigating four Maldivians who have been accused of plotting a terrorist attack in a neighbouring country, a police spokesperson has revealed. The suspects, whose names have not been disclosed, are believed to be on the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated list of key ISIS and Al-Qaida operatives in the Maldives, which was most recently updated on 31 July.
According to the police spokesperson, a bi-national investigation has unearthed substantial evidence indicating that the four suspects devised a plan for a terror attack in both the Maldives and a neighbouring country in late 2017. However, the specific target country has not been revealed.
In addition to their alleged involvement in the planning, they are suspected of providing financial assistance to an overseas terrorist group with the intention of facilitating a terrorist act.
In light of this information and the evidence collected, law enforcement agencies executed search warrants at three different locations on Sunday night, resulting in the confiscation of digital devices belonging to three of the four suspects. These devices will be subjected to investigation to gather further electronic evidence pertaining to the terror plot.
The suspects’ presence on the U.S. Treasury Department’s list of Maldives-based terrorists highlights the seriousness of the situation. This list is designated for individuals or entities suspected of abetting or perpetrating terrorist acts.