A 25-year-old man died Monday night in the second fatal stabbing in Malé in less than a week.
Mohamed Anas, from the island of Meedhoo in Raa atoll, was reportedly stabbed by a group of masked men around 9 pm near the Litus Service Centre in the Galolhu ward of the capital.
He died while undergoing treatment at the nearby ADK hospital.
Photos of the victim lying in a pool of blood inside the motorcycle service centre have been widely shared on social media. He appeared to have been stabbed in the chest.
No arrests have been made so far.
According to newspaper Mihaaru, Anas was a speedboat captain. He was visiting Malé.
He is the fourth murder victim in 2017.
A 24-year-old man died of severe head injuries Saturday night after he was stabbed inside a café in the capital.
The fatal stabbings come after a spike in violent crimes in Malé during the past month.
The police came under fire after three people were stabbed last Tuesday afternoon and photos of a man near the Supreme Court with blood seeping from a back wound began circulating on social media. The incident occurred while scores of police officers were active outside the nearby criminal court as opposition supporters gathered for the hearings of two lawmakers.
The police alleged earlier that “some groups are deliberately trying to disrupt the peace in Malé and the atolls” and announced that special measures would be taken to maintain public order and safety in the capital.
Some 13 suspects were arrested over the weekend after the police launched a special operation to curb gang violence.
On Thursday, six suspects were arrested in connection with a violent assault on July 19. According to the police, an 18-year-old was stabbed near the Alcyon bakery and underwent treatment for eight stab wounds before being discharged from the hospital.
A man was also stabbed outside the Vilimalé ferry terminal around 08:35 pm on July 19, half an hour before the stabbing near Alcyon bakery the same night.
A 22-year-old man was meanwhile stabbed near the Nalahiya building on July 22.
On July 6, a young man sustained head injuries after a fight between rival gangs near the Henveiru park. Gang members were reportedly armed with iron rods and wooden planks.
According to police statistics, 456 cases of assault have been reported so far this year. Some 776 cases of assault were reported in 2016, down from 932 in 2015.
Photo from Raajje.mv
