Police deny reports of false flag ops to disrupt runoff

Maldives Police Service (MPS) on Thursday said that fake news is being spread that the government is planning to attack people in various governmental positions in the Maldives and expatriates living in the Maldives as part of a false flag operation ahead of the presidential runoff on September 30.

Police said in a statement that they had received information about such reports being spread on social media and an online newspaper.

Police denied the reports, saying neither the police nor the security services had received any information about any planned attack targeting government employees or foreigners living in Maldives.

 "When the person who posted this information on social media asked him to clarify whether it had any basis, he did not give any concrete reason to believe that such information existed, other than to say that the information was based on authentic evidence. He refused to disclose his source," read a message shared by a police spokesperson.

Police said that based on the information and intelligence of the security services, it is believed that these rumors are spread to create anxiety and fear among the people without any basis and to achieve a political objective.

The newspaper's journalist Ahmed Azan, who wrote the stories in the newspaper, responded to the police statement by saying that he spoke with the head of the criminal investigation for about 45 minutes on Thursday. He said he was convinced that it was true. Azan said the police did not even ask him who gave the information because they knew the source could not be revealed.

Police further urged the public not to spread such false news and cause fear and unrest. Police also asked of the people not to do anything that could harm the national interest.