Five more arrests in Addu gang fights

Police have made five additional arrests in connection to the recent gang fights which broke out in Addu City.

According to a police spokesperson one of the arrests – that of a 23-year-old man – was made on Monday night. It was in connection to the fight of Friday.

Meanwhile, four additional arrests were made on Tuesday, in connection to the fight on Sunday. They were identified as men aged 18, 20, 21, and 23.

Both fights took place in the Hithadhoo district of Addu.

The fight on Friday left a 30-year-old man in serious condition with multiple stab wounds. He was initially treated at the Addu Equatorial Hospital before being moved to the ICU of Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male’ City.

Police previously arrested four young men in connection to the case – aged 18, 19, and 20, and two aged 23.

The new suspect arrested on Monday night, along with the five previous suspects, have been remanded to jail pending the outcome of trial.

Meanwhile, the second stabbing was reported to police at around 03:30 pm Sunday. It left a 20-year-old man with stab wounds in his stomach and shoulder. He initially treated at the ICU of Addu Equatorial Hospital, before getting transferred to IGMH.

The police had arrested a 22-year-old man in connection to the case on Monday. He, too, was jailed pending the outcome of his trial on Tuesday.

The news arrests increase the total suspects arrested in the case to 11 – six in connection to Friday’s fight and five in connection to Sunday’s.

The cases are under investigation by the police.

Gang-related violence has also been recently reported in Male’ City – coming after months of relative calm. This has prompted the police to reinforce security in both Male’ and Addu.