KUALA LUMPUR • Malaysian counter-terrorism police have arrested and deported five Maldives residents, including a suspect believed to be involved in an assassination attempt on Maldivian President Abdullah Yameen, said Inspector-General Abu Bakar Khalid.

The suspect believed to be involved in the assassination was the Maldives' investment envoy.

Mr Yameen escaped unhurt in the Sept 28 blast, while travelling on a speedboat, as he was returning from Saudi Arabia after performing the haj. His wife and two of his aides were injured.

The country's international airport is located on a separate island from the main capital island of Male.

The suspect, 47, was arrested in a condominium in Kuala Lumpur along with two other Maldivian men and two women on Wednesday, Tan Sri Khalid said in a statement.

"The arrest was possible based on the cooperation with the Maldives authorities," he said.

According to a senior counter-terrorism source, the other four were not involved in the murder attempt.

"The suspect owned the condominium and was a travelling envoy. He had just travelled to China before entering Malaysia on Oct 22," said the source.

Last Saturday, Maldivian Vice-President Ahmed Adeeb was arrested over the assassination attempt.

Amy Chew