Bahrain’s interior ministry said on Sunday it had foiled a “terrorist attack” early this year that was backed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The statement confirmed earlier media reports by Akhbar al-Khaleej newspaper about an alleged planned attack and added a timeframe.
“We want to make clear that this case goes back to early 2020 and it is currently being looked into by the relevant court,” the ministry said in a statement carried by the Bahrain news agency (BNA).
The statement criticized the newspaper for its “inaccurate” reporting of the case, saying it may affect the court proceedings. It called on all media to adhere to professional standards in such reports.
Later on Monday, Advocate General Ahmed Al Hammadi said the High Criminal Case is still looking into the case of 18 defendants accused of plotting to carry out terrorist attacks in the country
The Public Prosecution started investigating the case after the defendants were arrested in mid-January 2020.
The probe has revealed that the main defendants, based in Iran and receiving financial and logistical support from the Revolutionary Guard, have set up a group to commit terrorist acts in Bahrain and have recruited the other suspects as members.
The defendants plotted to carry out terrorist acts with the aim of spreading fear among people and chaos in the society and weakening the foundations of the state, Al Hammadi said, according to BNA.
The defendants collected funds for their terrorist operations and acquired explosive and flammable devices, materials and tools used in making them. Some of the defendants had received training in the use of firearms and explosives as their terror acts included exploding bombs and targeting security forces.
The investigations revealed that they started carrying out their plans by planting explosive devices in public places with the intention of targeting security personnel.
They also revealed that following the killing of the terrorist Soleimani at the beginning of the year, one defendant asked the leaders of the terrorist group to avenge his killing and name their group “The Martyr Qassem Soleimani Brigade” and that name was approved.
“Based on the evidence against them, the prosecution referred the defendants, including nine in absentia, to justice. Their case was reviewed by the High Criminal Court where the defendants appeared accompanied by their lawyers. The case was postponed to September 21 and the court heard the pleadings of the defense and their witnesses. The case was postponed to September 28 to hear the pleadings of the remaining defendants,” Al Hammadi said.
