Maldives President Abdullah Yameen was unhurt after an explosion took place on his speed boat as it was approaching the capital Male Monday.
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Minister Mohamed Shareef says the blast occurred Monday morning as the boat reached the main jetty in the capital of Male.
“The explosion happened while the President and his wife were returning from the airport to Male after concluding their Haj visit”.
Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz Ali confirmed that the president was unharmed.
Ahmed Hamdhoon, a local journalist who was on the jetty to cover Gayoom’s arrival, said he heard a huge blast as soon as the boat docked.
Witnesses said they saw an ambulance rush to the jetty and police immediately cordoned off the area. The President did not get injured but his wife did and is being treated at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
“We don’t know if the explosion was from explosives or the inboard engine”, said Shareef, reached by telephone from Sri Lanka. “MNDF will comment on that after conducting a thorough investigation”, Shareef told the television station, adding that that first lady was undergoing tests at the hospital’s observation room.
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Videos shot following the explosion show the first lady lying down on a bench inside the speedboat.
