Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed injured in bomb blast

Mohamed Nasheed, former President of Maldives and the current Speaker of Parliament, sustained injuries in a bomb blast near his home on Thursday night.

The incident was reported at around 8.30pm (Maldives Time).

Nasheed was about to leave his home. The explosion happened while he was walking towards his car. It is a narrow street where he lives so he had to walk a few meters to reach the car. It was reportedly a motorbike that exploded. He was accompanied by his bodyguards and one of them was also injured.

Initial reports suggested an explosive device had been fastened to a motorbike that was parked nearby.

Nasheed was taken to ADK Hospital in Male where he is receiving treatment now.

The hospital treating Mr Nasheed said he had suffered multiple injuries but was in a stable condition. Several other people are reported to have been injured.

In a tweet, the current president of the Maldives, Ibu Solih, said police had launched an investigation.

Ahmed Mahloof, Minister of Youth and Community Empowerment in Maldives, said they were yet to ascertain details of his injuries.

“I am deeply worried. An act of terrorism… I am sure this government will take strict action against perpetrators,” Mahloof added.

Ali Azim, an MP from the MDP, said the explosion appeared to be "a targeted attack against Mr Nasheed". However, no one has claimed the attack and there are no reports of arrests.

Supporters of Mr Nasheed have gathered outside the hospital where he is being treated. The situation is reported to be tense and police with riot gear have been deployed.

Mr Nasheed was the first democratically elected president of the Maldives.

He won multi-party elections in 2008 but was ousted in a coup four years later.

Mr Nasheed, 53, is currently serving as the speaker in parliament which is the Indian Ocean nation's second-most powerful position.

Mr Nasheed is not only a pro-democracy icon, but also someone who doesn't hesitate to talk against religious radicals.

Mr Nasheed was barred from contesting the 2018 presidential elections after he was convicted of criminal charges.

However, he returned to the country from self-imposed exile after his party won the 2018 presidential elections and then entered parliament.

The Maldives is a largely Sunni Muslim nation made up of 1,192 individual islands south-west of the Indian sub-continent. It is renowned as a holiday destination for its beaches and luxury resorts.

Its political history has been unsettled since the electoral defeat of long-serving President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 2008 ended decades of autocratic rule.