Bahrain breaks up ‘terrorist’ cell

In a move that is likely to raise tensions further between the Arab Gulf states and neighbouring Iran, Bahrain says it has broken up a terrorist ring which was allegedly planning attacks on national infrastructure.

In a statement, the Bahraini interior ministry said on Sunday that a Qatari security agency had detained four people when they entered the gas-rich Gulf state from neighbouring Saudi Arabia, while another suspect was later detained in Bahrain.

The suspects, who have been referred to public prosecution, possessed large amounts of US and Iranian currency, airline bookings to Syria, and sensitive information relating to infrastructure, the statement said, adding that the group were targeting the causeway linking Bahrain to Saudi Arabia, as well as the Saudi embassy in Manama.

“Inquiries revealed that the suspects had illegally left Bahrain after being incited by others to go to Iran, passing through Qatar and Syria, to establish a group that would carry out armed terrorist operations in Bahrain against vital establishments and individuals,” the statement said.

The government has been keen to paint the pro-democracy protests that erupted in February as a result of meddling from neighbouring Iran.

The announcement of the alleged plot comes after the US last month accused Iran of planning to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington, which has prompted calls for harsher sanctions against the Islamic republic.

The Bahrain uprising was led by members of the majority Shia community, who have been demanding greater political rights and an end to discrimination at the hands of the minority Sunni government.

In the aftermath of the Saudi-backed security crackdown in March, the government announced that it had foiled a plot aiming to undermine all the Arab Gulf states by targeting Bahrain, in a veiled reference to Iran.

News of the alleged terrorist plot comes ahead of the November 23 release of the independent royal commission’s report to King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa about the events of February and March.

The scope of the report will provide the basis for further reforms, government officials say.

The largely peaceful protests were brutally crushed in February and again in March amid claims of widespread torture.

About 45 people, mainly protesters, died in the violence that marred the island’s reputation as a business hub.

Hundreds have since been arrested and several thousand lost their jobs for taking part in, or sympathising with, the demonstrations.

Some modest reforms since the crackdown have been rejected as cosmetic by the opposition, which continues to demand greater democracy and justice.

Members of the minority Sunni community have backed the government’s hardline approach, arguing against reopening dialogue with the opposition.

At this weekend’s grand prix in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the crown prince, said the situation in Bahrain was “looking good” as officials said they were confident the island would be able to host a Formula 1 race in April after this season’s event was delayed and then cancelled owing to political tensions on the island.

“There are certainly things that happened in the country that nobody is proud of,” he told reporters in Abu Dhabi. “But we have an important report coming out on November 23 and that will really give us a narrative of the truth that we can accept and move on.”

Source: Financial Times