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Weapons concealed in residential apartment un Bahrain

Manama : A residential apartment in Bahrain has been used by the suspects as their warehouse and workshop to manufacture explosives, investigators found. 

Police seized materials used for making explosive devices, some of them in the shape of rubber barriers (traffic cones), from the apartment following a raid. 

“The suspects were using Iran-made weapons and materials,” said Chief of Public Security, Major General, Tariq Al Hassan. 

“They received financial aid from the escapees in Iran and were also instructed to set up a local workshop to manufacture IEDs,” he added. 

Investigators also found that the suspects were using Iran-made encrypted phones to communicate in implementing their plot. 

The suspects, Tariq Al Hassan said, received training from Iranian experts for making and using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), C4, TNT and RDX. 

“They were trained to use Kalashnikovs, M16 rifles, RPG rocket launchers, pistols and medium machine guns at the Iranian Revolutionary Guard camps,” he added. 

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Al Hassan, however, refused to divulge more information about the terrorist attack on the oil pipeline in Buri. 

He said investigations are continuing and details will be announced later.

“A committee has been formed, headed by Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to secure oil facilities in coordination with security agencies,” Al Hassan said replying to a question by DT News. 

Affirming that there’s a noticeable decrease in the number of terrorist incidents, Al Hassan said, “No country could completely stop terrorist attacks.”

Legal measures were taken to refer the case to Public Prosecution, while search and investigations are continuing to arrest the remaining suspects. 

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Tactics to divert attention

Iran is attempting to spread chaos in the region to divert international attention from them, said Chief of Public Security, Major General, Tariq Al Hassan. 

The recent attacks, Al Hassan said, in Bahrain are part of such a tactic. 

“Whenever pressure increases from the international community, Iran destabilises the region by waking up its sleeper cells,” Al Hassan said, adding: “The attacks were committed by brainwashed individuals.”

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Crimes committed by the cell

1.   12 and 14 February 2017: Attacked police patrol vehicles in Sitra using IEDs. Damaged three civilian cars and a number of public and private property.

2.    13 August 2017: Monitored movements of a police patrol vehicle and attacked using IEDs, causing property damage.

3.   2 October 2017: Targeted a police vehicle using IED during Ashoora commemorations in Daih and injured five on-duty policemen. 

4.   27 October 2017: Attacked a police bus near Jidhafs using IEDs hidden inside rubber traffic cones resulting in the death of a policeman and injuring 9 others. Also damaged a civilian car.

5.   Stole number plates of cars and heavy vehicles to execute terrorist activities.

 

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Zuhair Ibrahim (37) (Arrested)

Owns a restaurant in Sitra.  Participated in the planning and execution of a number of terrorist acts. Received training on IED and firearm use in Iran. 

Communicated with cell members using an encrypted phone programmed in Iran.

 

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Mohammed Mahdi (39) 

Heavy truck driver

Main suspect in the execution of terrorist acts and IEDs’ manufacturing

Wanted in eight forced robbery cases and rioting

 

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Qassim Al Moamen (28)

(Fugitive in Iran)

Sentenced to life imprisonment  

Citizenship revoked for involvement in terror crimes

Responsible for coordinating the training of terrorist elements

 

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Sadiq Al Touq (36)

(Fugitive in Iran)

Wanted for crimes including manufacturing and possessing IEDs

 

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Mahdi Ibrahim (28)

(Fugitive in Iran) 

Sentenced to 30 years in jail

Involved in explosives manufacturing.