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Bahrain Interior Ministry: Manama Oil Pipeline Blast is a ‘Terrorist Act’

Bahrain Interior Ministry: Manama Oil Pipeline Blast is a ‘Terrorist Act’

Saturday, 11 November, 2017 - 15:30
Emergency and rescue workers are seen blocking the road leading to a fire in at oil pipeline in Buri village south of Manama, Bahrain, November 10, 2017. Picture taken November 10, 2017. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Bahrain on Saturday blamed a "terrorist act" for an oil pipeline fire near the capital Manama, later brought under control by emergency services.


"It is an act of sabotage, a serious terrorist act aimed at harming the interests of the nation and endangering the population," the interior ministry said on Twitter.


Emergency services brought the blaze under control after it was discovered early Saturday, it said, adding that national oil company Bapco had turned off the flow of oil.


According to an official statement, Bahrain’s Minister of Interior explained that Civil Defense dealt with the fire from the very first moment and was able to control it in record time.

Bahrain’s Interior Minister also accused Iran of being involved in the recent acts of terrorism that targeted the kingdom, including the oil pipe blast.


Thankfully, the fire did not result in any casualties, he added.


He expressed his thanks and appreciation to the security authorities concerned and Bapco and to the citizens who cooperated with them.


The fire service also evacuated homes in the nearby village of Buri, 15 kilometers south of Manama, it added.


Bahrain relies on the Abu Safa field, which it shares with neighboring Saudi Arabia, for much of its oil, pumped in via a 230,000-barrel-per-day pipeline.


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