Boyscout saves Chief Scout General Gayoom from assassination attempt

President of Maldives General Maumoon Abdul Gayoom escaped the first assassination attempt on him today when a young man named Mohamed Murshid, 20, tried to stab him with a knife. A young boyscout named Jaisham Ibrahim, 15, who was next to the attacker grabbed the knife and General Gayoom survived the attack unharmed. The boyscout was injured and is undergoing treatment. General Gayoom is also the Chief Scout of Maldives.

The incident happened in Hoarafushi during the General’s tour of Haa Alif atoll to gain support for the presidential election to be held this year. In an interview with TVM after the assassination attempt, General Gayoom said he will not be deterred by such attacks. He said over 90% of the people still support him and rumours about his unpopularity are simply not true. He said he will continue his tour as planned and he was not aware if there were more planned attacks on him.

The attacker had hidden the knife inside a Maldivian flag. Even if the boyscout had not stopped the attacker, it would have been tough for the attacker to reach the General who is a sharp marksman and is always armed.

This is the first recorded attempt on the life of General Gayoom, who has ruled the Maldives since 1978. He and his friends had smuggled pistols in their pockets when he took oath as President on 11 November 1978.