Four speedboats, a sea ambulance, and two dinghy's docked adjacent to each other at the harbour went up in flames in the fire, reported The Edition.

Two of the burnt speedboats belonged to a private company, while one was a police launch and the other owned by the Alifu Dhaalu Atoll council, reported the Maldives-based newspaper.

Speaking at a press conference held by the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC), Commissioner of Police (CP) Mohamed Hameed was quoted as saying by the newspapaer that the incident which took place at 0522 hrs on Wednesday morning during the early hours was “clearly a deliberate act". 

Meanwhile, intelligence group SITE confirmed the incident and its Director Rita Katz posted: "#ISIS claims its first ever attack in the #Maldives, stating a special source told #Naba that Islamic State fighters carried out the arson attack that destroyed five boats, including a police and ambulance unit, in #Mahibadhoo town, central Maldives."

No casualty has been reported in the incident.