Maldives vice president arrested over ‘bomb-plot to assassinate president’

Maldivian authorities on Saturday arrested the nation’s Vice President Ahmed Adeeb (pictured) over a plot to assassinate President Abdulla Yameen, who escaped death after his boat was hit by a bomb, the home minister said. Yameen had appointed his deputy Adeeb, 33, three months ago after impeaching his original running mate Mohamed Jameel, also on charges of treason. Ten days ago, Yameen sacked his defence minister Moosa Ali Jaleel after the explosion aboard his speed boat as he returned home after a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

VP Adheeb under arrest and held in Dhoonidhoo Detention (prison island). Charges: high treason.

Home minister Umar Naseer, on Twitter using a different spelling of the vice president’s name.

Maldivian authorities have arrested two security personnel who had access to Yameen’s boat but have yet to disclose what caused the explosion. The security shake up followed a reshuffle of key officials in the wake of the September 28 explosion aboard Yameen’s boat, as he was about to disembark at the capital island Male. The Maldivian leader was unhurt in the blast but his wife and two others suffered minor injuries. The Maldives has seen its image as a peaceful holiday destination for well heeled honeymooners dented by political turmoil since the toppling of the country’s first democratically elected leader Mohamed Nasheed in February 2012. Yameen, who came to power following a highly controversial election, jailed Nasheed for 13 years in March and faces international censure over his crackdown on dissent.

Vice president Ahmed Adeeb has been arrested under a court warrant for the investigation into the explosion aboard the presidential speedboat.

Maldivian police said on Twitter