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Maldives military confirms explosive device found in capital, govt denies emergency declared

Xinhua, November 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Maldives military has confirmed that a suspected device found in a vehicle parked near the presidential residence in capital Male was an improvised explosive device which has been defused, local media reported on Tuesday.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Captain, Ali Ihsaan, said intelligence reports of a possible explosive device was received on Saturday and the military had been able to confirm the exact location of the device through further investigations.

According to Ihsaan, a dynamite stick had been used as the primary explosive in the device which was designed to be remotely detonated.

Local media reported that the discovery of the suspected explosive device came in days after the authorities seized weapons from an uninhabited island.

The weapons found Saturday from the island of Hinbalhidhoo in Baa Atoll, which is being developed as a tourist resort, included several hand guns, a T56 assault rifle and a MP5 sub-machine gun. In addition, a large quantity of bomb making material was also discovered.

The military had confirmed that the two rifles found in the island were from the state armoury.

Ihsaan said the dynamite stick is not believed to be from the armoury.

Meanwhile, the Maldives foreign ministry has denied reports that a state of emergency had been declared in the island nation following the latest discovery of the explosive device. Endit