Maldives Police Service, on Thursday, arrested the seventh suspect in connection to the recent act of violence against three foreign nationals in reclaimed suburb Hulhumale'.
The police revealed that a 22-year-old was apprehended over assaulting two Chinese nationals and an Australian with a knife near the Hulhumale Redbull Park Futsal Ground on February 4.
According to local media outlet Mihaaru, some of those arrested include individuals involved in spreading extremist ideologies in Madduvarri, Raa Atoll. Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the police recently conducted a joint operation on the island against religious extremism, resulting in several arrests.
The police have also confirmed that the perpetrators behind the Hulhumale' stabbings are believed to be extremists.
On February 6, a suspected group of extremists uploaded a video to social media taking responsibility for the attacks. A mask-clad man speaks to the camera in Dhivehi, the local language, while subtitles appear at the bottom of the video in English.
The video labels Maldives' leaders as apostates and accused them of deceiving the masses and snatching away the wives and children of extremists, declaring that the perpetrators targeted the state's vulnerability as retribution.
The Police are currently working to establish the validity of this video.
Following the attacks, the government officially reiterated guarantees to ensure the protection of all individuals visiting Maldives and the resident population.
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