Gulf | Bahrain
Two Bahrainis to be tried for planning terror acts
The two Bahrainis arrested late last month over suspicions of planning terror acts in Bahrain were charged on Wednesday with contacting a terrorist organization to target foreign interests in Bahrain. The authorities did not name the organisation, but it is thought to be Al Qaeda.
- By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 18:10 May 27, 2009
Manama: The two Bahrainis arrested late last month over suspicions of planning terror acts in Bahrain were charged on Wednesday with contacting a terrorist organization to target foreign interests in Bahrain. The authorities did not name the organisation, but it is thought to be Al Qaeda.
"The two suspects will be tried on June 30 for their contacts with a terrorist organisation abroad in order to perpetrate antagonistic attacks on foreign interests in Bahrain. They will also be tried for smuggling arms and ammunitions to use during the attacks," the public prosecutor said.
"The prosecution has completed its investigation of the terrorist cell and the charges against the suspects have been confirmed," the statement said.
The two defendants will remain in custody until their trial next month.
Their arrest was announced in April by Shaikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the interior minister.
"Police searched the two men's houses and seized two Kalashnikov rifles and their ammunition, a Beretta handgun and its ammunition, a sword, CDs, computers, knives, tapes, bank statements and exchange companies' documents," said Shaikh Rashid.
The minister warned people against the dangers of websites that "promote terrorism under the guise of jihad".
"Such websites seek to take advantage of young people to instill in them extremist ideas and to make them the preys of terrorist networks that will use them to carry out acts of sabotage and perpetrate crimes," Shaikh Rashid said.
His warning was supported by religious leaders who cautioned against "senselessly waging jihad upon the orders of extremist organisations".
Security authorities last December arrested 14 people in connection with an alleged plot to target crowd-pulling areas in Manama as the country celebrated its national day.
They were all pardoned as part of an amnesty granted by King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa last month.
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