Boy gets three months jail for attack on Al Hala Club

Manama : A Bahraini boy was sentenced to three months imprisonment for his involvement in the attack on Al Hala Cultural and Sports Club in Muharraq last July.

The 19-year-old, along with a group of boys his age, broke into the club and attacked the coach, players and employees there with planks and sticks.

The attack came while the football team performed their evening practice.

The incident was recorded by the surveillance cameras installed at the club. The players chased the attackers outside the club and were able to catch the defendant and two others, before handing them over to the police.

Chief Prosecutor of Muharraq Governorate Prosecution Abdulla Al Dossary confirmed in a statement issued back then that the suspects were interrogated and referred to court.

Al Dossary also said the arrests were made after reviewing the footages from the security cameras installed at the club and interrogating several accused.

The footage of the barbarian attack was leaked to the internet and was strongly denounced by sports figures and social media users in the Kingdom.

Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Hisham bin Mohammed Al Jowder had visited the club the next day, met the officials and players there and assured them that the government would take all necessary measures to prevent all sort of violence from recurring in sports facilities. He affirmed that “the protection of sports facilities was a national responsibility”.

The boy was sentenced on Thursday by the Fifth Lower Court, while two of his companions were acquitted.