Manama: Bahrain's interior ministry has launched an investigation into the death of teenager Ahmad Jaber Al Qattan following conflicting reports about how he died.
"The investigation was launched over the death of Bahraini Ahmad Jaber after the report of the medical examiner of the Public Prosecution attributed the death to injury by birdshot [stray bullet] and the report of Bahrain International Hospital said the death was due to severe drop in the blood circulation that led to the heart stopping," the assistant under-secretary for legal affairs said yesterday.
"Legal procedures will be taken according to the results of the investigation."
Al Qattan, 17, died on Thursday evening and Al Wefaq, the largest opposition society, said that he was hit by a stray police bullet during clashes in the Abu Subaa area, in the north west of Bahrain.
Road blocked
According to the ministry, the clashes erupted after protesters blocked the road and hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at the police, prompting them to use tear gas.
Al Wefaq said that a rally planned for yesterday in Buri, a small town in central Bahrain, was cancelled "because it will coincide with the funeral procession of Ahmad Jaber".