Ghassan admits security breach in Nasheed’s 2021 attack

Defense Minister Gassan Maumoon has acknowledged a security breach in the May 6, 2022 assassination attempt on former Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, marking the fourth anniversary of the attack.

The revelation came during a parliamentary session today in response to questions from PNC MP Ibrahim Shujau, who pressed Gassan on whether the attack had been planned and whether negligence played a role within security agencies at the time.

“We are extremely concerned that when an incumbent president was attacked so strongly, it is believed that if a security breach comes into play, it is because the things that should be looked at are not looked into,” Shujau remarked, alluding to the perceived inaction and lack of accountability.

Gassan, who assumed the defense portfolio after the attack, confirmed that the Ministry of Defense has not undertaken a new investigation since his appointment. Instead, he shared his belief—formed during his tenure as a member of the 241 Security Services Committee in the 19th Parliament—that warning signs were overlooked.

"I was one of those who was involved in the work of the 241 Committee in Parliament at that time. I believe that there were better things that could have been ordered from above by the Defense Forces. I believe that there were indications of it before it happened [the bombing]," Gassan said.

He stressed that the current government is committed to ensuring such an incident never happens again.

The 19th Parliament’s inquiry had previously concluded that a lapse in security had occurred. Today, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), founded by Nasheed, issued a statement condemning the continued lack of justice, four years after the attempt on his life.