Defendants jailed for plotting terror attacks

Manama : Chief of Terror Crimes Prosecution, Advocate General Ahmed Al Hammadi, yesterday said that the High Criminal Court had sentenced two suspects to 15 years in prison, five suspects to three years and seven to seven years for possessing and acquiring explosive materials, weapons and ammunition illegally for terrorist purposes.

They were also found guilty of arson for terror purposes, illegal assembly, as well as the acquisition and possession of incendiary devises. The seized items were confiscated.

Court documents reveal that a group of saboteurs carried out an attack on the Sitra Police Station and the policemen stationed near it using incendiary devices (Molotov cocktails), which led to setting vehicles ablaze.

The Criminal Investigation Directorate conducted investigations, identified the suspects and arrested a number of them. While in custody, one of the defendants informed investigators about places where the weapons used in terror acts were stored.

“The weapons included home-made tubular explosive devices, a home-made weapon launcher and a home-made weapon with the same specifications as a bullet firearm, birdshots, teargas bullets and materials used in making explosives,” Al-Hammadi said.

The Public Prosecution relied in substantiating the charges on testimonies from evidence witnesses, the confessions of the suspects a, and forensic reports.

“The suspects were referred to the High Criminal Court, where they stood trial in the presence of their defence lawyers,” he added.

The Advocate General confirmed that the defendants had been afforded full legal rights throughout the trial, including the right to appeal the court ruling, as guaranteed by Bahraini law.