Bahraini teens jailed for attacking police officers

Manama : Four teenagers accused of resisting arrest and firing at police officers have been sentenced to prison terms ranging between one and 15 years. 

The four Bahrainis, including an alleged gunman, are suspected of being involved in the shooting incident, which occurred in December last year on the Exhibition Road. 

The defendants, aged 17-18, were wanted in connection with security-related cases, but according to court files, they were evading arrest. Thus they were declared fugitives. 

After being spotted near Juffair, the police pursued the four defendants, who resisted arrest. During the pursuit, the first defendant drew a shotgun and opened fire at the police officers in a bid to kill them before stealing an Asian’s bicycle and rode away. 

Officers valiantly chased the man until he barged into an apartment in the area, where he locked up himself and re-opened fire at the officers. He was eventually, however, nabbed along with the accomplices, who also resorted to hide in an apartment to avoid being apprehended.   

The police seized a shotgun loaded with ammunition from the gunman. The suspects were charged with using force to avoid arrest, obstructing the duties of police and threatening them. 

The first defendant was also indicted of possessing a weapon without a licence, attacking policemen and trespassing. 

The gunman was sentenced to 15 years behind the bars and the second defendant was given five years in prison while the rest received only one-year imprisonment. They were ordered to pay a total amount of BD670 for the damage they caused to private properties during the incident.