Attorney General Berthine Razafiarivony said on Thursday, July 22, that the arrests took place on Tuesday, July 20 as part of a months-long investigation “into an attack on state security”.

He said, “According to the evidence in our possession, these individuals had devised a plan for the elimination and neutralisation of a number of people including the head of state.”

Officials did not give details on the extent of the plot or how far advanced it was when the suspects were apprehended.

On Wednesday, a separate statement by the public security minister said that six people had been arrested: one foreign citizen, two dual nationals, and three Madagascans.

The minister said “The police had information for several months, but only now was there an opportunity to arrest them”