Colombo (News 1st): Reports say that Abdulla Luthfee, the mastermind behind the 1988 terror plot that killed 19 Maldivians, had been at the Maldivian Embassy in Colombo for nearly two months until May.

Issuing a statement, the Maldives Police confirmed that Luthfee surrendered himself to embassy officials on May 1st. However, the whereabouts of the Maldivian national remains unclear.

It is believed that Luthfee surrendered to the embassy officials amidst sweeps by Sri Lankan security forces in the aftermath of the 04/21 attacks.

The news of Luthfee hiding inside the embassy gained public attention following a tweet by former Maldivian Home Minister Umar Naseer.

This terrorist who killed 19 Maldiveans is hiding at the Maldives Embassy in Colombo. There is an Interpol Red Notice on him. @MLOsrilanka Government announces $10,000 reward for information that can lead to Luthfee's arrest | https://t.co/0QkzxEetDL — Umar Naseer (@UmarNaseerMV) June 23, 2019

Maldivian Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed said on Tuesday that attempts were underway to extradite Abdulla Luthfee within 48 hours.

Quoting the Police Commissioner, Maldivian media reported that Maldivian Police assumed responsibility for Luthfee at once, and have been working closely with relevant authorities to return him to the Maldives.

However, according to the Commissioner of Police, the extradition process was delayed due to various complications, such as Luthfee owning documents seeking a certain amount of protection from the United Nations.

Maldivian media reported that the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an official statement confirming that the delay was caused by the same reasons listed by the police.

When inquired, Sri Lankan Police media division said Sri Lanka Police has not received information of the Maldivian national.

Speaking to News 1st, an official of the Maldivian Consulate in Sri Lanka said the consulate cannot comment on the matter.

News 1st tried to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inquire if there are attempts made by the Maldivian Embassy in Sri Lanka to safeguard a terrorist using diplomatic immunity. However, our attempts proved futile.

The 1988 Maldives coup d’état was the attempt by a group of Maldivians led by Abdulla Luthfee to overthrow the government of Maldives.

However, they failed to capture Former President Abdul Gayoom after the Indian government dispatched 1,600 troops by air to restore order in Malé.

Luthfee, who is sentenced to life, fled to Sri Lanka in after he was granted permission to travel to India for medical treatment in 2009. An Interpol red notice was issued against him in 2012 after he had fled.