Maldives Police Service (MPS) has stated the investigation into the May 6 terrorist attack has not found any evidence a group had funded the attack or assigned a reward for its successful execution.
At a press conference, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Riyaz said the funding of a terrorist attack is usually carried out by providing funding to cover the costs of the attack or giving a financial reward for its execution. Riyaz said the motorcycle to which the bomb was attached was bought in 2019 for about USD 1,000 and that the suspects had rented an apartment to make the improvised explosive device (IED). He also said MPS has investigated over 317 bank statements, including bank statements of the families and friends of the suspects, and that there has been no evidence to suggest that the suspects received funding from outside sources.
Furthermore, Riyaz said the motive of the attack was for the progress of the extremist religious ideology and that they targeted Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed due to their belief that he was irreligious. He added the suspects are uneducated and have accepted misinterpretations of Islam by consuming videos, books, and other material from religious extremists.
Additionally, Riyaz said the suspects do not accept Maldivian governance or law, and that while they also believe that the Maldivian currency is sacrilegious, some of the suspects had accepted the government's income allowance and assistance from the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA). He noted the behaviour of the suspects does not align with their beliefs, which MPS had gathered from their phones and other electronic devices. He urged citizens to be cautious of such extremist ideology.