Bahraini prosecution issued jail sentences, ranging between 3 to 15 years, to six nationals convicted in two different cases based on terrorism charges. Two convicts were also stripped from their citizenship and forced to pay a fine valued at BD 100,000 ($265,280).
One of the suspects, who is member of the terrorist "February 14 Coalition", was convicted of recruiting rabble-rousers to terrorize people, disrupt public order, and undermine national stability.
The February 14 Coalition is an outlawed group founded after the date of the beginning of Bahrain's uprising, and led by anonymous individuals who organize protests chiefly via new-media sites
The suspect was also found guilty on charges of supervising and enrolling elements that in turn deliver funds and provide financial support that empower terrorists to carry out their plots in Bahrain.
A second suspect was also convicted of terror-funding charges, and had premeditatedly agreed to join the organization despite knowing its goals and nature.
Terror Crime Prosecution Chief Advocate General Chancellor Dr. Ahmed Al Hammadi said that three people were sentenced to 10 years in jail while three others received prison terms of three years.
Bahrain’s criminal court had High Criminal Court issued the rulings after convicting them of allegedly carrying out the gas explosion in front of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) in early 2017 and taking part in an unlawful assembly and rioting.
The court also fined all six suspects 500,000 dinars each, Hammadi added.
Case documents revealed that the suspects had planned for the explosion of a gas cylinder near the gate of the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) in advance.
On Jan 17, 2017, they headed to the site, placed the gas cylinder within a tire, poured gasoline and set fire to it, which led to the explosion of the gas cylinder and caused damages to the NBB building.
Public prosecution said that the suspects had carried out the explosion to terrorize citizens and residents, and subvert national security and stability. One of the convicts was found in possession of illegal ammunition and weapons.
The court, in an official statement published on the Bahraini state-owned news agency (BNA), said it levelled the charges based witnesses’ accounts, suspect confessions and technical evidence.
