‘IS mosque threat’ defied

Despite alleged terrorist threat to mosque, Bahrainis come in large numbers

Muhannad Mansour/DTNN

muhannad@dt.bh

Manama

An alleged IS threat to blast a Shia mosque near the Diplomatic Area here was defied by hundreds of Bahrainis by attending the prayers yesterday. Following the threat supposed to be issued by IS members, security was intensified in the vicinity of Ras Ruman Grand Mosque as a centralised prayer was offered in the mosque.

Checkpoints were set up by the community police in the surroundings of Ras Ruman during the time of the prayer. Hundreds of both sects from across Bahrain flocked into the mosque to offer prayers, defying the alleged terrorist threats.

On Thursday, a screenshot of a conversation went viral through local social media networks. The message read that a number of IS jihadists have reached Bahrain to execute a so-called “blessed operation” to blast a Shia mosque.

The leaked message was claimed to be discovered by an Iraqi citizen, after he seized a mobile phone of an IS member. He posted it on the web, along with a “warning to the people of Bahrain.”

Meanwhile, Anti Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security Director General Lieutenant Colonel Bassam Al Miraj announced on Thursday night that “tweets from outside Bahrain claiming to be conversations between a male and a female member of the Islamic State (IS) promoting fear and sedition were monitored.”

The Lt. Col. urged citizens and residents to ignore rumors and threats, including those from anonymous sources.

He added that Interior Ministry had investigated those cases and taken full responsibility for the security of the nation. He also asked the public to cooperate with police by reporting suspicious cases to 999.

Jaffaria Waqf Directorate (JWD) in Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry expressed gratitude to Interior Ministry for their efforts to protect the worshippers. JWD also praised the cooperation of the worshippers with security authorities.