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A Boy Scout's Heroic Deed

As a boy scout in the Maldives, an island chain in the Indian Ocean, Mohammed Jaisham Ibrahim learned the old Scouts motto: "Be prepared." Well, he certainly was. On January 8, the 15-year-old scout foiled an assassination attempt on Maldives' President, Maumoon Gayoom.

Mohammed sprang into action when an attacker lunged at the President with a knife. Guards overpowered the would-be assassin when he tried to strike a second time. He and four others have been arrested in connection with the attack.

President Gayoom was not hurt. Mohammed later received stitches for a cut on his hand. The scout, who was flown to the country's capital for treatment, is being hailed as a national hero. "There were hundreds of people gathered to receive him," says Ahmed Zahir, the editor of a local newspaper. "I don't know how he reacted so quickly. He is very, very brave."

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