Series of blast attempts foiled in Bahrain
Manama : Security authorities have thwarted the attempts of five Bahraini suspects, who were planning several bombings in the country.
“They have been arrested recently for manufacturing and storing explosives,” officials announced yesterday. The group, which included a student, received military training in Iran and Iraq.
The police announced that they had confiscated a number of weapons, explosives and bomb-making materials from an auto-service garage in Hamad Town, which was used as a warehouse by the suspects. More weapons also were seized from their residences.
The suspects were identified as Mohammed Abduljalil, 28, Mahmood Jassim, 26, Jassim Mansoor, 25, Ahmed Mohammed, 23, and Khalil Hassan, 20.
According to the Interior Ministry’s statement, the operation came as a result of its counterterrorism programme. “Police seized bomb-making materials and weapons after arresting five individuals on terrorist charges. Investigations revealed that they had planned bombings in more than one location in Bahrain,” a ministry spokesperson said.
While speaking to National TV, he said: “The arrestees were found to have turned their homes into additional storage areas for bomb-making materials. They confessed to receiving intensive military training in Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Iraqi Hezbollah camps. Investigations are going on to identify additional members of the group and bring them to justice.”
“After the Public Prosecution was notified and legal proceedings were taken, the bomb squad and forensic teams were deployed to the relevant locations. The forensic team collected evidence suspected to be explosives and removed them to a safe location,”
he explained.
“The confiscated things included weapons, remote control devices, communication devices and batteries typically used in the detonation of bombs. Besides, E-boards, mobile phones, telephone chips, electronic keys and wires were also found. The police also seized daggers, knives covered with polyurethane bags and various currencies,” the spokesperson added.
Commenting on the suspects, the Interior Ministry spokesperson said: “The first suspect, Mohammed Abduljalil, is a private company employee. He received military training in Iran, including pistol and automatic weapons training (such as Kalashnikov and PKG). He also received training in bomb-making and assembly, and the use of explosives such as TNT and C4.”
According to the ministry’s statement, Abduljalil was trained by a fugitive in Iran, identified as Ali Al Musawi.
“Al Musawi coordinated the training and provided Abduljalil with logistical support. When Abduljalil returned to Bahrain, he along with others decided to use a car workshop in Hamad Town to store bomb-making materials and weapons. The group built a hidden room to hide the contraband,” the spokesperson explained.
The second suspect, Mahmood Jassim, was also worked for a private establishment. He received military training in Iran by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and in Iraq by the Hezbollah brigades.
The spokesperson confirmed that the third suspect, Jassim Mansoor, was also working in a private firm. “Mansoor confessed to receiving batteries from the first suspect (Abduljalil) that were to be used in bomb-making and remote control devices.”
Meanwhile, investigations revealed that the fourth suspect, Ahmed Mohammed, and the fifth, Khalil Hassan (student), played minor roles. “Mohammed confessed to providing assistance to the third suspect (Mansoor) in transferring the batteries and wires used in making bombs to his flat,” he added.
The official called upon the public to report suspicious activities by calling the police hotline at 80008008, confirming that all calls will be treated as anonymous.
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