Maldivian Vice-President arrested on suspicion of links to a blast on President's boat

Vice President of Maldives Ahmed Adeeb was arrested on 24 October 2015 at the airport when he returned from an official visit to China.

Police said that Adeeb was arrested on suspicion of links to a blast on the Presidential boat that occurred on 28 September 2015.

The explosion took place aboard the boat when President Yameen Abdul Gayoom and his wife were returning to the capital from the airport after a Haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Gayooom escaped unhurt but his wife, an aide and a bodyguard were injured.

Earlier, it was said that the explosion could have been a result of mechanical failure. Later, authorities said that it was an attempt to assassinate Gayoom and launched a criminal investigation. They thought the blast as an assassination attempt as the device used to set off the explosion was placed under the seat usually occupied by the President.

According to Maldives Constitution, if the president dies, is incapacitated or resigns, the vice president succeeds him.