The office of the National Security Advisor would like to clarify the situation of Maldivian citizen, Iqbal Mohamed, who was detained upon his arrival at Male’ International Airport, by the Maldives Police Service on Thursday, 10 March 2011.

Iqbal Mohamed is a Maldivian citizen who had an Interpol Red Notice issued against him in connection to an Improvised Explosive Device which was detonated in Sultan Park, Male’ on Saturday, 29 September 2007.

Iqbal Mohamed was travelling back to the Maldives from Pakistan, via Colombo, when the Interpol’s Major Events’ Support Team, who was in operation due to the ICC Cricket World Cup, identified him and informed the Maldivian authorities in coordination with the security agencies of our friendly neighbouring countries.

Following his arrest at Male’ International Airport, Iqbal Mohamed was held in Police custody for 15 days, and was released on 25 March following an order by the Maldivian Criminal Court. The Maldives Police Service continues to investigate Iqbal Mohamed and any possible links to the 2007 Sultan Park bombing.

We have no knowledge of Iqbal’s involvement in any planned attack on the ICC Cricket World Cup, which has been alluded to in the press over the last 3 days, and we would like to emphasise that our primary reason for detaining him was in relation to the September 2007 Sultan Park bombing in the Maldives. We remain grateful to the quick support afforded to us in this matter, by the Interpol and our partner agencies in the region.


For any further inquiries please contact Chief Inspector of Police Mohamed Hameed via +9607909491.