Witness to testify in arms training case on Sept 12

Manama

A prosecution witness will testify on September 12 in the trial of two accused on grounds of receiving military training in Iraq.Among the accused is a 21-year-old student, who was pursuing his bachelor’s degree. He was reportedly recruited by radical groups to carry out attacks against security forces, according to court files. The other accused, aged 31, is in Iran and being tried in absentia. 

The 31-year-old fugitive reportedly convinced his co-accused to join an extremist group called Bahraini Hizbullah following which, he sent him to Iraq to receive arms training at a camp operated by the Popular Mobilization Units.  

He was also taught how to make and use improvised weapons and grenades. 

“One day I received a friendship invitation from a stranger on my BlackBerry Messenger. I accepted it and we soon started chatting,” the 21-year-old said in his statement. 

“I was at that time pursuing my degree at a university in an Arab country. He told me he is staying in Iran and offered to take me to Iraq so that I can receive arms training,” he stated.  “I told him I need three weeks to think about it, but eventually agreed. He covered my travel expenses, and I was trained on how to use explosives. Also militants there showed me various videos on bombings and also taught me how to attack armoured vehicles.” 

The accused was arrested upon his arrival in Bahrain following a police tip-off about his overseas activities. The 31-year-old is implicated in several other terror cases for recruiting Bahrainis into radical groups responsible for assault on police officers. It’s worth noting the so-called Bahraini Hizbullah has claimed responsibility of a string of attacks against the security forces in Bahrain.