Witnesses to be heard in terrorist group case

Prosecution witnesses will take the stand on 21 November 2018 to give evidence in the case of the Bahraini Hizbollah terrorist group in which  169  men have been charged.   The terror group, according to court files, was formed by merging several Bahrain-based terrorist groups as ordered by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

Bahraini Hizbollah was thus formed by merging Saraya Al Ashtar (Al Ashtar Brigades), Saraya Al Mukhtar (The Chosen Brigades) and Saraya Al Muqawama Al Sha’abya (Popular Resistance Brigades). An investigation into the network by the Public Prosecution identified  the group as having 169 members of which 111 are in police custody. They will stand trial in the High Criminal Court on October 3.

The remaining members will be tried in absentia.   They are accused of joining the terrorist organisation, carrying out attacks, receiving militia training in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon as well as storing weapons and explosives. Some of them are accused of heading and funding the group. 

Terror Crime Prosecution chief advocate general Ahmed Al Hammadi said, “leaders within the Iranian regime” ordered the IRGC to form the terror network to operate as a Bahrain branch of Hizbollah, an Iran backed terrorist organisation based in Lebanon.   “Members of the terrorist cells received funding and training to set up weapons and explosives depot, smuggle bombs and firearms, and use dead drops to deliver money and weapons to members of the group,” he said.