Chief of Defence Force, Major General Abdulla Shamaal has said that the Speaker of the Parliament, former President Mohamed Nasheed was taken to the hospital within eight minutes after the explosive attack as he was getting in to his car.

Speaking at the MNDF press conference today, the Chief of Defence Force said that the former President left the house around 8:25 p.m. and the attack too place at 8:27 p.m.

Major General Shamaal said that former President Nasheed fell on the ground with numerous injuries on his left side following the attack. And by 8:35 p.m., he was brought to the hospital.

He said that the IED (improvised explosive device) was attached to a motorcycle on the former President's left side. And one of the bodyguards also took injury on his left side while the other bodyguard was facing north so his right side was to the source of the explosion.

Highlighting that the IED used in last night's attack was a homemade, non-military grade device, Major General Shamaal said that he is happy with how the MNDF bodyguards guarding the Speaker of the Parliament last night.

"That is because they were easy, even with injuries, to prioritize the him and kept talking to him (former President Nasheed)." The Chief of Defence Force said.