Convicted terrorist gets death penalty

The High Criminal Court sentenced a convicted terrorist to death and 22 others to life in jail following the murder of a policeman, the Chief of Anti-Terror Crime Prosecution, Advocate-General Ahmed Al Hammadi, confirmed yesterday.

The sentence followed a comprehensive trial during which, the accused were found to have formed a terrorist group within Bahrain. The group allegedly obtained and used weapons, and raised funds for terrorist activities. 

The court revoked the nationality of all accused and fined two of them BD200,000.

The group was found guilty of carrying out two blasts last year that killed a policeman and a Bahraini citizen. 

According to case files, a policeman was killed in the attack took place in Dumistan area on December 8, last year.

A group of suspects reportedly started a riot to lure policemen to the street where they had planted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). A second group remotely detonated the bomb when police approached and a third group acted as lookout for additional security forces.

Due to the quick response of security forces in Dumistan, the suspects were prevented from carrying out a subsequent terror attack in Karzakan. 

However, an IED planted by the suspects in Karzakan was unintentionally detonated, which killed a civilian and injured another. 

Extensive investigation and the gathering of forensic evidence led investigators to conclude that the same terror group was responsible for both incidents and that the group had been formed to target security forces within Bahrain. 

The prosecution’s case against the accused also included documented statements by six of the suspects and witness testimony.

The accused had regular access to their legal teams throughout the trial, as guaranteed by Bahraini law. 

The defendants have the right to appeal the ruling and will continue to be afforded full legal rights.