Various sources have reported that the operation conducted Monday night was on a terror cell. The terror cell was preparing for a terror attack to various locations in Male’.
Police is yet to issue an official statement on the raid.
Officers on Monday night entered and searched Embu and Namoonaage, and an office building – all in the Mahchangoalhi ward of Male’ City.
Warrants for these properties were issued on the grounds that they harbor evidence in an ongoing investigation into a threat to national security, according to police documents. An officer’s later comment reveal that this threat is from illicit weapons production.
Four had been arrested in connection to the raid. Criminal Court decreed that the four must be detained for the duration of the investigation. Some of the arrested were ISIS sympathizers and quite vocal of their support on social media.
Police said the doors of the office, Attic Pvt Ltd had been knocked down by the Police during their search. They added that three individuals in the office were preparing explosives inside the office. Over 10 kg of TNT was taken from the office.
Bottles and cans filled with TNT was also taken from Namoonaage, as well as pressure cookers, wires, phones and explosives making materials.
Sources in Police report that the perpetrators were planning terror attacks in five locations in Male’.