Americans traveling to the islands of Maldives should “exercise increased caution” due to potential terrorist attacks, says the US State Department in its latest security review.
Let’s be clear. The Asian islands are still considered quite safe for U.S. citizens to visit, as the level advisory still ranks at Level 2.
But, according to the agency, terrorist groups may attack places visited by tourists with little or no warning.
Potential targets include airport and bus terminals, shopping centers, tourist landmarks, and government buildings.
Maldives is made up of 1192 islands, but only 203 are inhabited. It may be challenging for authorities to control all of them, so a military response may take longer than it should if an emergency happens, according to the advisory.
The country has undergone over 37 terrorism incidents in the last 6 years, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal.
In the summer of 2022, Alo Solih, Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology was brutally stabbed by Mohammed Jameel as he chanted some coran verses.
In 2021, former President Mohamed Nasheed was seriously injured when terrorists detonated an “Improvised Explosive Device” (IED) outside his home. Another five people were injured, including an innocent British bystander.
Since 2019, the country has arrested nearly a hundred terror suspects.
In 2022, it was proven that at least 14 of these terrorists, Islamic State collaborators, plotted to attack the Indian community living in the Addu area, as well as the National Police College. Their objective was to cause hundreds of deaths.
An effective police operation stopped the attack.
Given the data, Indian-Americans should be particularly aware of their surroundings when visiting Maldives.
Last year, the US Department of Treasury announced that it “designated key leaders and financial facilitators of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Al-Qaida in the Maldives, including 20 ISIS, ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), and Al-Qa’ida operatives. OFAC also designated 29 companies associated with the individuals sanctioned today, who include leaders of Maldives-based terrorist-affiliated criminal gangs and associates of key ISIS-K recruiter Mohamad Ameen, who was designated by OFAC in 2019. Several of the individuals being designated today have also planned or carried out attacks that targeted journalists and local authorities.”
Earlier this year, the country repatriated a group of 21 locals consisting of widows and children of foreign terrorist fighters who had left the islands for the Syrian war. Authorities said they could face criminal charges.
In spite of everything, Maldives is not a battlefield, ”Regular” crime is actually pretty low.
Here are some recommendations for Americans to travel safely to Maldives, as per the US government.
- Stay away from demonstrations and crowds, especially in tourist hotspots.
- Monitor local media for breaking news and be mentally ready to change your plans accordingly.
- As an American, you should register in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier for US authorities to locate you if something goes wrong.