Police say 19 foreigners were apprehended from the resort construction site on Baa Atoll Bodufinolhu after disgruntled foreigners took several locals hostage yesterday.

In a statement, Police said it received a report that some expatriates working on the construction site had taken 15 locals who also worked on the site hostage around 09:45 am.

But upon further reconnaissance Police said that 13 Maldivians were held captive on the island and one had escaped and tried to swim to freedom and was picked up by police officers.

Police also said Officers from neighboring Thulhadoo Police Station approached the site but were met with a mob of angry and confrontational foreigners.

Police added that more officers reached the site late in the night but then were forced into a skirmish with the mob after the expatriates attacked the officers using pipes and other items.

It said that one officer suffered head injuries while another broke a finger and that several others sustained minor injuries in the scuffle.

Police also said that two of its top-ranked officers along with members of its Public Order Response Unit, Investigation Unit, and two officials from the Bangladeshi High Commission reached the island at dawn and rescued the 12 Maldivians held hostage on the site.

Police highlighted that no physical force was used in the rescue operation but the situation was resolved through negotiation and mediation.

Police added that 19 foreigners who took part in the strike and clashes were apprehended from the site.

It said that Police were investigating the damage to the property on the construction site and that it is Serious and Organized Crime Department and Human Trafficking Department were conducting a joint investigation.

It has been confirmed that the migrants took matters to their hands after the local employers failed to pay their salaries for the past 7 months.

Hostage Police