Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior (MOI) denounced the Qatar Board and Coast Guard for threatening Bahrain police personnel while carrying out their duties.
In a statement, the Ministry said it had controlled an armed incident in the middle of the sea through the presence of the required force "to tackle the situation at the right time and place.”
“What the Coast Guard police encountered by the Qatari Coast Guard is unacceptable for being an abuse against Bahrain police personnel while carrying their duties," MOI statement read.
It also stressed that it "holds the Qatari side legally accountable of all violations against citizens and their livelihoods," adding that “Bahrainis don’t expect such practices from Qatari authorities, because such an approach is against traditions.”
The ministry said that these practices don’t reflect the basic framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council "that is based on closed ties between states and the principle of common destiny.”
Earlier this month, Qatar intercepted two Bahraini coastguard boats that were returning after taking part in a maritime exercise.
“The Qataris detained the vessels, threatened to use weapons, and prevented Bahraini crews from contacting the operations room, without regard to their affiliation to the Bahraini Coast Guard as an official entity,” the Bahraini ministry said.
