Kuwait bomber travelled like any other passenger: Minister

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Manama

Following the revelation that the suicide bomber, who attacked a mosque in Kuwait on Friday, travelled from Saudi Arabia to Kuwait via Bahrain, Minister of Information Affairs Isa bin Abdulrahman Al Hammadi said that there had been no scope for suspicions from the part of Bahrain. He said that the Kuwait suicide bomber travelled via Bahrain International Airport (BIA) like any other ordinary passenger, ruling out chance for having any doubts.

Addressing media yesterday on the sidelines of weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Minister said that the young Saudi bomber Fahad Suleiman Abdulmohsen Al Gabbaa (23) went through all mandatory security checks during his boarding in Riyadh as well during his transit stay in Bahrain. Even his luggage had gone through all mandatory security checks, the Minister said. 

The General Director of Security for Ports of Bahrain has earlier confirmed that the bomber, who led an attack on Imam Sadiq mosque in Al Sawaber neighbourhood that left 27 people dead, arrived at the BIA from Riyadh on June 25 on Gulf Air flight 170 at 10.40pm.  He remained in transit until he left for Kuwait on Gulf Air flight 211 at 1.10am on June 26.  

Isa bin Abdulrahman Al Hammadi said that Bahrain had been maintaining international standards when it came to security checking at all entry points of the Kingdom. Same standard will be applied in future also at all the ports of entry, the Minister said, adding that this would be achieved with the cooperation of neighbouring countries. 

During the Holy Month of Ramadam, a lot of people visit places of worship as they spend more time in prayers. Therefore, utmost priority will be given for the security of prayers of worship. Moreover, the security forces of the Kingdom were well prepared to thwart any untoward situation, the Minister said. 

Not only Bahrain, but also the entire world has been facing the treat of Islamic State (IS), which claimed responsibility for Kuwait bombing. Therefore, a concrete effort was essential to defeat these anti-Islamic elements, which commit cowardly acts, the Minister said. Meanwhile, he sought the help of the Bahraini citizens and residents to cooperate with security forces to ensure the safety of the Kingdom.