The Criminal Court has today ordered release of all persons arrested on the 1st of this month during the violent protests of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Following their arrest, the Criminal Court ordered continuation of their detention for five days, for the purposes of police investigation. 24 people were released today, and they were released when the Police took them to the court after the period of detention expired. Ahmed Shiyam, Police Media Official, said that with the release of these people, no one arrested on the 1st of this month is in police custody. “All the people arrested on the 1st of March have now been released”, said Shiyam. Shiyam said that investigations of these people were ongoing, and that their cases would be sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office as soon as investigations are over. Some 60 persons were arrested on the 1st of this month, when MDP activists and supporters violently attacked the police units guarding passageways leading towards the Parliament House for security reasons. MDP supporters conducted these protests in order to block President Dr. Waheed from delivering his State of the Nation Address at Parliament. While many were released on that day, some were released on conditions. Arrested and detained persons also include members of some Island Councils and Atoll Councils.