Foiled terror plot: Suspect rearrested, jailed pending trial’s end

One of the suspects arrested in a joint counter-terror operation by the security forces in November, who was released by the High Court on Sunday, has been rearrested and jailed pending the outcome of trial, after the police produced new evidence against him.

The terror operation saw the arrest of 14 suspects – all local males. 10 of the suspects were arrested from Addu, two were arrested from Male’ City, and two more from K. Guraidhoo.

According to the police, all 14 suspects are originally from Addu, and nine of them have prior arrest records.

One of the suspects arrested from Addu, Mohamed Gais, Aazaa, S. Maradhoo-Feydhoo, who the Maradhoo-Feydhoo Court had remanded in jail pending the outcome of trial, appealed his detention with the High Court.

The court ordered Gais’ release Sunday, citing the lack of any other evidence against him, except for an intelligence report.

However, he was rearrested within hours of his release under an order from the Criminal Court, and had been put back in jail pending the outcome of his trial.

Police requested the second arrest warrant citing he posed a danger to the community. The police also submitted a report on evidence seized from his home, which hadn’t been submitted the first time.

The counter-terror operation was launched in response to intel regarding a plot by Islamic State (IS)-sympathizers in Addu to carry out a terror attack.

According to police, the suspects had been planning a mass casualty terror attack using explosives.

Police later confirmed finding high explosive chemicals from one of the properties linked to the suspects.