The first known bombing in the Maldives, targeting foreign tourists in the capital Malé and prompting a nationwide security alert.
Key Facts
- Date
- September 29, 2007
- Location
- Sultan Park, near Islamic Centre, Malé
- Tourists injured
- 12 (8 Chinese, 2 British, 2 Japanese)
- Bomb type
- Homemade: gas cylinder, washing machine motor, mobile phone
- Historical significance
- First known bombing in the Maldives
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The attack was carried out using a homemade device constructed from a gas cylinder, a washing machine motor, and a mobile phone. The bomber targeted Sultan Park, a public area near the Islamic Centre and the Maldivian National Defence Force headquarters, which was equipped with surveillance cameras.
On September 29, 2007, a bomb exploded in Sultan Park in Malé, the capital of the Maldives. The blast injured twelve foreign tourists — eight from China, two from Britain, and two from Japan — marking the first known bombing to occur in the island nation.
Maldivian authorities declared a state of high alert in cities, placing airports and ferry services under heightened security. President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom convened an emergency security meeting with senior ministers and advisors, including the Home Minister, National Security Advisor, and Tourism Minister, to assess and respond to the threat.