Police had intervened in tonight’s MDP led protest activities after the refusal of participants to leave protest zone after 00:00hrs.
Around 00:03hrs، Maldives Police Service officials active at the protest site، announced a final warning stating that they will break the protest if participants denied to obey their orders، and had continuously recommended to call off the protest and leave the area.
However، protesters had refused police orders and continued to protest at the protest site، at the intersection of Majeedhee-Chaandhanee Magu.
Roughly around 00:08hrs، approximately 50 police officers in riot gear and shields had breached into the protest site to fend off demonstrators. At the time of police intervention، most of the protest leaders had been sitting at the intersection.
By 00:12hrs، Police issued another warning، stating that all participants who refuse to leave the area will be arrested and taken into police custody. Around 00:17hrs، police had used pepper-spray to thwart off protesters from the protest zone.
Around 00:34hrs، it was reported that Deputy President of MDP Shifaz، and Musthafa Lutfy had been taken out of the cordoned area. A minute later، on-site correspondents report of two arrests made by police.
Around 00:36hrs، Police had prepared to arrest all participants active at protest zone and by 00:41 police reinforcements had arrived at protest site to provide back-up.