MANAMA: Bahrain has started its investigation into the attempt to smuggle explosives, weapons and ammunition from Iran into the kingdom.
Advocate General and Acting Attorney General to the Terror Crime Prosecution Hamad Al Buainain said that the inquiry was launched following a notification from the General Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Forensic Evidence.
“The investigation has revealed that the accused who were arrested had joined a terror group that smuggled explosives, weapons and ammunitions by sea to be used in perpetrating terrorist acts inside Bahrain,” he said.
“Some of the suspects travelled to Iran, in coordination with some individuals based there, and were trained on using firearms, making explosives and smuggling them into Bahrain.”
The accused have managed to smuggle explosives, weapons and ammunitions into Bahrain several times since 2013, he added.
The latest smuggling attempt was foiled on July 15 and two suspects were arrested, alongside three other suspects in connection with the terrorist group.
The Terror Crimes Prosecution questioned the five accused who were arrested in connection with the case and ordered them to be held in custody pending further investigations, Al Buainain said
“They were charged with collaborating with suspects who worked for a foreign country to perpetrate hostile acts against the Kingdom of Bahrain and with belonging to terrorist group. They were also charged them with receiving training on using weapons and explosives, smuggling weapons and explosives and illegally possessing explosives, weapons and ammunitions with the intent of carrying out terrorist acts and ordered them to be taken in custody for 15 days pending further investigations,” he said.
On Saturday, Bahrain’s interior ministry said it seized “a lethal mix of materials, including 43.8 kg of the powerful explosive C4, eight automatic assault rifles (Kalashnikov), 32 Kalashnikov magazines, and ammunition and detonators.”
The ministry said the suspects had admitted receiving the shipment from Iranian handlers outside Bahrain’s territorial waters.
