Maldives deny cricket WC 'attack plot'

Authorities in Maldives have denied a statement by Interpol that a Maldivian national has plotted to stage an attack on the cricket world Cup in Sri Lanka.


Addressing media in Pakistan on Thursday, Interpol chief Ronald Noble has said that the World Cup “is safe” after the recent arrest of Iqbal Mohamed on his return from Karachi to Male through Colombo.


The statement indicated that the suspect has planned "a terrorist attack" on the ongoing cricket World Cup co-hosted by Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.


"Just last week, through the cooperation from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, we were able to identify, locate and arrest a terrorist, who had left Karachi on his way to the Maldives with criminal intentions," Mr Noble said.



"Thanks to the cooperation of your country and other countries we were able to make sure that the World Cup remained safe."


'Serious attempt'


The press briefing was also attended by Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik.


"There was a serious attempt of act of terrorism" being planned during the World Cup, Minister Malik said.


But a Chief Police Inspector in Maldives- who did not wished to be named -told BBC Sinhala service that the police have uncovered no links with the suspect, Iqbal Mohamed, 42, and the alleged plot to attack the cricket World Cup.


"We believe that it is some kind of a misconception in sections of the media that he had some association with an alleged terror plot during the World Cup," the inspector said.


The Chief Inspector said Iqbal Mohamed is the only Maldivian national arrested with the help of Interpol in recent weeks.


It is just a "mere co-incidence," he said, that the suspect happened to be interdicted during the World Cup.


"We have not had any evidence or intelligence information associating this person to any such attack," he told BBC Sandeshaya.



A court in Maldives has later released the suspect on bail.


The police spokesman also denied the reports that the suspect was arrested in Colombo on his way to Male.


"He was arrested in Male. We had an Interpol red notice issued against him and he was absconding since 2007 and we also had prior knowledge of his return to Male about few weeks back," he said.


"We do really appreciate Interpol's effort to enforce this red notice especially at a time when the cricket World Cup is going on."


The police spokesman said the reports of an alleged attack on the cricket World Cup by a Maldivian national has had a "negative impact" on Maldives, a popular tourist destination.


source ; BBC