Investigation finds housing ministry fire wasn't arson: Ihusaan

An investigation into the fire that broke out at the Ministry of Housing in November 2024 has concluded that the incident was not an act of arson, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan said on Tuesday.

Ihusaan disclosed the findings while responding to questions at a sitting of the People's Majlis.

MDP MP for Vaikaradhoo constituency Ahmed Ziyad questioned the minister about the status of the investigation and whether authorities had established if the fire was started intentionally.

Responding to the question, Ihusaan said the police investigation had been completed with assistance from foreign experts and had found no evidence that anyone deliberately started the fire.

"I would like to highlight that the investigation shows this incident was not a case of people going in and setting a fire," Ihusaan said.

The fire broke out at the Housing Ministry in November 2024 and spread to two other ministries, causing damage to the buildings and their contents.

According to Ihusaan, footage from body cameras worn by police officers who were among the first responders at the scene provided evidence on where the fire began.

"Video footage from the bodycams of the police officers who attended the scene at the initial stage proves to us that the fire first ignited in wires associated with an air conditioner inside the ceiling," he said.

The minister said the investigation had therefore found no evidence of third-party involvement in starting the fire.

Ihusaan said further details of the investigation and its findings would be disclosed at a press conference.

During the parliamentary sitting, Ziyad also sought information on the financial loss incurred by the state as a result of the fire.

Ihusaan said his ministry had not yet received figures showing the total financial damage caused by the incident. He said the information would have to be clarified before an amount could be provided.