Reports now confirm that a comparatively small mob went near M. Yaagoothuge، Nasheed’s wife’s residence amid Police officials attempted to arrest the former President.
Under the court order from Criminal Court following PG office request، SO Police officers raided Laila Ali’s residence to arrest former President of Maldives and MDP leader Mohamed Nasheed.
Minutes after Police had entered the premises، MDP Chairperson Ali Waheed had tweeted the news of Nasheed’s arrest following with an angry mob of roughly 200 MDP-JP combined supporters gathering at the site، for intervention.
Protesters carrying out their rallying cry to release their leader. Photo: Abdullah Abeedh
Supporters had attempted to cease and interrupt the police vehicle in which Nasheed was being transferred. Protesters had confronted SO police officers، further intensifying the clashes and leading it violence. With protesters resorting to attack officers with bricks and stones، Police officers retaliated by firing off pepper spray cannisters at the mob.
The angry mob had carried out their rallying cry to free their leader، former President Mohamed Nasheed.
Supporters proceeded to gather near Maldives Monetary Authority building when police had moved away from Laila Ali’s residence. A rough number of 250 protesters gathered at the site، continuing their cry to release Nasheed. Police had pushed the rioters further back up to Unity One store. Without much force applied by authorities، the mob broke off on its own and they left site around 17:15hrs.
Around the same time، approximately 200 protesters gathered near Bandaara Mosque but they kept mum mostly. Similarly to the mob that gathered near MMA، they had also left the site eventually، around 17:00hrs.
The protests that initiated after officers arrested Nasheed. Photo: Ash-haadh Abdullah
Police had intervened protesters who gathered near Reefside. Around 200 people gathered to that site as well. Police had pushed them farther back to Seagull cafe’. The mob who gathered at the site had also maintained their cool and had acted accordingly to the orders of the officers. The mob mostly consisted of females who unlike other mobs directed their verbal lashes at officers rather than calling to free Nasheed.