Security authorities foil plot to carry out series of bombings

The Ministry of Interior today announced that a terrorist plot to carry out a series of bombings within Bahrain has been foiled by security authorities.

Investigations that led to the arrest of the leaders and members of the terrorist group, named as the ‘Al-Basta Group’, also found that the group received financial and logistical support from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRG) and Hezbollah.

Security authorities’ investigations found connections between members of the Al-Basta Group and the Saraya Al-Ashar terrorist group, whose members have previously been convicted of terror attacks within the Kingdom. The Al-Basta Group has also been found to hold links with suspects involved in a Sitra bombing on 28 July 2015, which resulted in the death of two policemen and caused injuries to six others. The Al-Basta Group was also found to have been in close contact with Murtatha Majeed Ramdhan Alawi, known as Alsindi (33), who is a fugitive in Iran and wanted in connection with several terrorist attacks. The Ministry of Interior also confirmed that two additional fugitives remain at large, naming them as Isa Saleh Isa Mohammed Salman (35) and Mohammed Saleh Isa Mohammed Salman (38).

Two suspects, named as Ali Ahmed Fakhrawi and his brother Mohammed Ahmed Fakhrawi, are said to have led the group’s military branch, Tayar Al-Wafa Al-Islami. Security authorities said Ali Fakhrawi travelled to Iran in 2011 to secure support from senior members of the IRG and Hezbollah.

Additionally, Ali Ahmed Fakhrawi travelled to Lebanon’s Dahieh area in 2012 accompanied by suspects Zuhair Ashoor and Hussain Abdulwahab, to seek financial support from Hezbollah. During their visit, they met Hezbollah’s Secretary General, Hasan Nasrallah, and his deputy, Naaim Qassim, where they proposed the revival of the ‘Tayar Al-Wafa l-Islami’ terrorist organisation. Investigations found that the individuals sought financial assistance in order to support terrorist attacks in Bahrain, and that Hasan Nasrallah welcomed their efforts and provided them with $20,000.

Additional suspects arrested have been named as Ebrahim Jaafer Hasan (29), Hameed Ali Mansoor (59), Mohammed Abduljalil Ali (46), Isa Jassim Al-Qafas (33), and Mahmood Abdul-Redha Hasan Aljazeeri (28).

Investigations have indicated that the suspects committed to providing senior members of IRG and Hezbollah with periodic reports on their activities within Bahrain, with the intent to orchestrate, plan and execute terrorist attacks under the leadership of Murtatha Majeed Ramdhan Alawi, also known as Alsindi.

Mohammed Ahmed Fakhrawi is also said to have travelled to Iran in mid-2015 to secure additional financial support and develop more secure financial transfer processes. While in Iran, Mohammed Ahmed Fakhrawi was found to have met with senior leaders of IRG, before travelling to Lebanon’s Dahieh area to meet deputies of Hezbollah’s leader and secure further support for the Al-Basta Group within Bahrain.

In light of the information and evidence discovered during investigations, the General Directorate for Criminal Investigation has put in place all necessary legal procedures and transferred the case to the Public Prosecution.