Gulf | Bahrain
Bahrain busts terror cell trained in Syria, led from London
Bahrain on Saturday said the group arrested on charges of planning terrorist attacks during the National Day and Accession Day celebrations had been trained in Syria and were supported by leaders based in London.
- By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 23:32 December 27, 2008
Manama: Bahrain on Saturday said the group arrested on charges of planning terrorist attacks during the National Day and Accession Day celebrations had been trained in Syria and were supported by leaders based in London.
"The accused have confessed that they travelled to Syria in the summer as part of a religious group ostensibly to visit sacred sites. They were met there by a Bahraini who lives in London and who had arranged for them a training programme that included the making and use of explosives and blowing up cars," Shaikh Rashed Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the interior minister, said. "The accused were trained alongside other people from other countries at a camp in the Hujjair area."
The minister said that he did not know where the trainers were from, but added they were not Bahrainis and, did not wear masks.
According to Shaikh Rashid, the accused planned to launch their attacks on December 16 and 17 as Bahrain celebrated National Day and the Accession Day, two occasions where thousands of people were gathered together.
"They had selected targets on Exhibition Avenue and in the Diplomatic Area and the Marina Club," Shaikh Rashid said.
The Diplomatic Area includes several embassies, including those of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkey, and Germany, as well as major ministries, whereas Exhibition Avenue is one of the busiest areas in Manama and thousands of Bahrainis and Gulf nationals use it to shop in its many shops or to stay at its hotels. The Marina Club, a seafront recreation area, is used mainly by local and expatriate families keen on open air relaxation and children's fun rides.
"The group confessed that they were supported by two people living in London, one of whom had been granted the asylum, who said that they would smuggle a large quantity of weapons into Bahrain to use for acts of violence, sabotage and terror that will disrupt security and public order," Shaikh Rashid said.
According to the minister, one of the 14 people arrested was working for the interior ministry.
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