Australian man stabbed in Maldives ‘terror attack’

An Australian and two others have been stabbed in a suspected terrorist attack in the Maldives | GRAPHIC

An Australian and two others have been stabbed in a suspected Islamic State terrorist attack in the Maldives.

A video is circulating online of the attack on the 44-year-old, which was confirmed on Thursday by Maldives police.

Police have arrested two men over the attack, which took place between 7pm and 8pm on Tuesday on Hulhumale, an artificial ­island in the Maldives that is popular with tourists. 

Reuters reports that a video posted online shows three masked men accusing the Maldives government of being run by infidels and warning that more attack­s were coming.

In a statement, the Maldives police said they were “continuously monitoring the status of the victims of this heinous attack”.

Videos are circulating of an apparent stabbing victim in a bloodied shirt being driven by scooter to hospital. The Australian is reportedly in a stable condition.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted for comment. Smart Traveller has no warnings for the Maldives outside of the ­capital, Male. However, it does note that terror­ist attacks are possible and government institutions and tourist areas and other sites popular with Westerners are prime ­targets.

The British travel advice website­ notes that terrorists are “likely to carry out attacks” in the Maldives. 

Maldivian authorities arrested a number of men in 2017 and 2018 on terrorism charges relating to attack planning in the Maldives.

Two Chinese and an Australian Tourist attacked and stabbed in Hulhumale is not acceptable 😡 @PoliceMv has to be more vigilant, repeated attacks on innocent people in Hulhumale is a clear indication of failures of Law Enforcement Authorities. pic.twitter.com/wUYTni1IFe

— Masood Imad (@MasoodImv) February 4, 2020