Police disclose more information on alleged local high-profile IS operative

Police have disclosed more information on the alleged local high-profile IS operative who was arrested recently.

Maldivian Police, in a joint operation conducted alongside United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and investigative authorities from two European Union (EU) nations, arrested a 30-year-old Maldivian man who is an alleged prominent operative associated with the terrorist organization, Islamic State (IS) on January 6, 2022, in Male’ City.

In a statement released today, Police said that since 2015, the man has been involved in supporting IS, and propagating its agenda via different social media platforms using accounts made under different names.

Police detailed he had made accounts under the ‘Skirmish’ and ‘Skirmishkid’ in Telegram and other encrypted messaging platforms and expressed support for IS in social media groups in which had circulated documents of IS to supporters of the terrorist organization based in different countries.

Police added their probe so far shows that the photos, videos and documents circulated by the man is targeted at different countries, which is translated to the respective languages used in those countries.

They also stressed that he had urged conspiring acts of terrorism, encouraged acts of terrorism and threatened to carry out acts of terrorism though such groups.

“In assessing some of the contents shared and circulated on social media, it is noted that (he) has called on fatal attacks against leaders of some European countries and encouraged such acts. It is also noted that (he) had called on terrorist attacks against European countries, civilians of such countries and places in these countries and encouraged such acts,” the statement by Police detailed.

Police said that in searching his residence, they had discovered and seized multitude of digital evidence.

Alleged IS operatives have been previously arrested in the Maldives as well. At present, the Criminal Court is reviewing many cases of individuals who traveled abroad for the purpose of joining the terrorist organization.