Family: Speaker Nasheed off life support, breathing on his own

The family of Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed said on Saturday that he is off life support and breathing on his own, after sustaining multiple shrapnel wounds in Thursday’s targeted terror attack.

A family member wrote on Twitter on Saturday afternoon that Nasheed’s doctors are very happy with the progress of his recovery.

“He is out of life support and breathing on his own. Managed to exchange a few words. Promised to come back stronger,” he wrote.

The attack took place at 08:27 pm on Thursday. A homemade remote-controlled IED was strapped to motorcycle parked nearby Nasheed’s residence, and was detonated just as Nasheed, 53, exited his residence and went to get in his car. Nasheed was thrown to the ground and sustained multiple shrapnel wounds, while three members of his security detail and two bystanders sustained minor wounds.

He was rushed to ADK Hospital, where he underwent multiple lifesaving surgeries. The hospital said on Friday that he was in critical condition, and being treated in the ICU.

The hospital is scheduled for a press conference at 04:00 pm this Saturday to share the latest information regarding his condition.

The police are treating the case as a targeted terror attack to assassinate Nasheed. They announced on Friday they were pursing four persons of interest, and confirmed on Saturday they have two suspects in custody.

Police have asked for anyone with information regarding the attack to call the hotline 9704000 or submit information to the online evidence submission portal.