Assistant Commissioner of Police and Head of crime investigation command Mohamed Riyaz says 5 mobile phones and reading material on radicalization have been confiscated from Maafushi Jail.
Addressing the media, Riyaz said police collaborated with Maldives Correctional Services and conducted an operation at Maafushi jail on the 27th of this month.
He said in the operations the jail cells were raided and that five mobile phones, accessories such as USB cables and chargers were also confiscated.
Riyaz also said books on radicalization were also found during the raid. He said the raid was conducted based upon police intelligence that confirmed prisoners were communicating with those outside.
Meanwhile, the head of the crime investigation command also updated the media on the latest development regarding the stabbing of foreigners in Hulhumale last February.
Riyaz said police have forwarded the case to PG for legal proceedings.
Riyaz said this attack was instigated as revenge against the police operations conducted late last year against hardliners.
Riyaz said 8 people have been arrested in relation to the attack. He said 6 of those were apprehended on February 13th and one was arrested on 2nd march from Th. Thimarafushi while another was caught from Hulhumale on the same day. Riyaz said 4 people actively took part in the attack against the foreigners.
Riyaz also gave an update on the arson attack against 5 vessels docked at Mahibadhoo harbor saying that the investigation was on-going. He said the investigation has revealed that the attack was carried out by a group of people who traveled to the island via dinghy in the hours of the day.
Riyaz said the suspects had disembarked onto the harbor platform and hurled firebombs made from bottles to the docked vessels. He said the investigation has found one such bottle that missed its target.
Riyaz also said the attack had some resemblance to other arson incidents that have been reported in other parts of the country. He said the incident was still under investigation.
