Ex-MP admits to giving financial aid to terrorists

Hussain Isa funded terrorists responsible for Sitra blast

Manama

A former legislator, who was recently arrested after returning from Iran, confessed to financing individuals responsible for Sitra terrorist blast, which killed two policemen and injured six others last July, Public Prosecution announced yesterday.

Hussain Isa, who is a member of Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, was arrested earlier this month, immediately after landing in the Kingdom while returning from Iran.

Advocate General, Acting Attorney General to the Terror Crime Prosecution Hamad Al Buainain stated that investigations revealed that the suspect, who is a member of a political society (without mentioning his name), had raised funds from inside and outside Bahrain to finance terrorist groups.

Al Buainain explained that the suspect funded terrorist groups included the group responsible for the deadly attack in Sitra that occurred on July 28.

“The suspect was arrested and the prosecution began interrogating him on August 23. He was informed about all of his rights and legal guarantees, parallel to the other suspects involved in the case,” the statement read.

It was also mentioned in the statement that “the suspect admitted that he regularly financed other suspects, knowing that they’re wanted fugitives.”

The prosecution ordered to detain the suspect pending further investigation, to quicken the arrest of the remaining suspects involved in the case and to promptly finalise the technical reports that are related to the case.

When the arrest was announced by Interior Ministry a few days back, Al Wefaq Society didn’t comment on the matter.

Al Buainain also explained that the prosecution began its investigations in the case once it was notified about it on July 28.

He confirmed that the crime scene was investigated by specialists, to stand on the nature of the explosives used in the attack, adding that a coroner was also assigned to inspect the bodies.

“Investigations lead to the suspects, who formed a terrorist group that planned to monitor security forces and kill its members. They agreed to target the police bus and planted the explosives, which was provided by another member that is residing in Iran. It was confirmed that one of the suspects received military training in Iraq, by coordinating with other suspects. The training included manufacturing and uitilising weapons and explosives,” the statement mentioned.

The General Attorney elaborated: “Five more suspects of the same group were later detected. Places where they regularly met were inspected, resulting in the detection of a ready to be used explosive, two remote controlled detonators and two locally-made weapons.”

Al Buainain added that the prosecution interrogated the arrestees, in the presence of one of their attorneys, and accused them of murder, attempted murder, forming and joining a terrorist group, terrorism bombing, training on the use of weapons and explosives, possessing weapons and explosives and manufacturing fire bombs.

As reported earlier, the blast took place near Sitra police station on the morning of July 28, while policemen were exchanging shifts.

It killed two on duty policemen, Naweed Ahmed Nazar and Hamid Rasool Arif, while six others sustained injuries, as stated by Interior Ministry.  The attack was highly condemned locally and internationally.