Jau attack planned

Manama : A week after armed gunmen attacked the Reformation and Rehabilitation Centre, ‘Jau’, killing a policeman and allowing 10 prisoners to escape, the Interior Minister Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa yesterday told the parliament that ‘negligence’ and ‘collusion’ were key reasons behind the jailbreak. 

“The negligence of some officials of the Centre resulted in the attack which was carried out according to a plan,” he said, asserting that the January 1 incident was a ‘terrorist operation’ against the public and security forces.

Briefing the parliament, Shaikh Rashid said jail officials suspected to have colluded with the terrorists were referred to the Public Prosecution of the Interior Ministry court, indicating action. 

He said investigators had identified four key suspects involved in the prison attack and jailbreak. They are: Mohammed Jassim Mohammed Jassim Al Abed, 28; Hamid Jassim Mohammed Jassim Al Abed, 28, (both from Hamad Town); Hassan Ali Mohammed Fardan Shakar, 22,  and Mahmood Yousif Habid Hassan Yahya, 22, (both from Bani Jamara). 

Suspects who helped them had been arrested, including the owner of the car used in the operation, he said. 

“The search continues for a 2008 black jeep with number plate 547672,” adding, the car involved in the operation was tracked on the road by CCTV.

The terrorists used a remote control airplane for filming, and that the investigation will continue to learn more about it and arrest those involved, Shaikh Rashid said.

He also stated that the homes of a number of suspects were searched, and a committee was formed to probe the circumstances that led to the incident.  Police patrols were carried out in all parts of the country to protect the public and promote the sense of security.  

He said that the Centre was well-equipped with all gadgets, including cameras and alarm systems. There are 600 CCTVs and the guards have enough weapons and clear order to deal with any kind of situations, he said.

He added that the martyred policeman Abdulsalam Saif was shot before he took over his shift and that the terrorists escaped from a gate that was left open for a cleaning vehicles to enter. 

Terror Trail

• Four young men suspected behind attack

• Suspects who helped attackers arrested

• Search on for 2008 black jeep with number plate 547672

• Drone used to film attack

• Homes of suspects searched