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Gang trained in Syria
Published: 28th DECEMBER 2008
Men arrested this month on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks during National Day holidays learned bomb-making in Syria last summer from two Bahrainis living in Britain, it was revealed yesterday.
Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said the two Bahrainis living in London are believed to be the cell’s leaders who guided and led the plot.
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Gang trained in Syria
Published: 28th DECEMBER 2008
Men arrested this month on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks during National Day holidays learned bomb-making in Syria last summer from two Bahrainis living in Britain, it was revealed yesterday.
Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said the two Bahrainis living in London are believed to be the cell’s leaders who guided and led the plot.
Speaking at a Press conference, he also revealed that an Interior Ministry employee has been arrested.
The 14 cell members have all been referred to the General Prosecution.
Investigation is still underway to find out whether other accomplices are still at large, he said.
The minister assured that they would be brought before the court in a transparent trial.
The group was planning to plant improvised explosive devices in vital and crowded locations during National Day celebrations in order to disrupt peace and public order, scare citizens and residents and endanger their lives, said Shaikh Rashid.
The security agency had information, validated by subsequent investigations, that a member of the terrorist group passed on explosive devices to some individuals to carry out the plot on December 17.
After obtaining a warrant from the Public Prosecutor, the security forces arrested some members of the group on December 16, and held others at a later date.
“Raids at their houses led to the discovery of improvised explosive devices and the tools to make them. They admitted during cross examination that they had plotted to execute their plan in places like Exhibition Road (Avenue), the Diplomatic Area and Marina Club,” he said.
The suspects claimed they were led and guided by two Bahrainis based in the UK.
One of them has been a resident there, while the other has been granted asylum. The suspects also confessed that the two had misguided some other youngsters by providing them with physical and military training, he added.
“They said that they travelled to Syria with a religious group that organised summer trips to sacred places in July and August this year to cover up the actual purpose of the visit.
“One of the two Bahrainis living in the UK met them there and organised an intensive programme to train them in making and using improvised explosive devices and planting bombs in cars. Their training took place in Al Hujira area in Syria and there were other people attending the training. All trainees wore masks, while the trainers, who were non-Bahrainis, did not.
“The suspects also affirmed that the two London-based Bahrainis planned to smuggle a large quantity of weapons into Bahrain to be used in acts of violence and sabotage and for terrorist operations aimed at disrupting public order and security.
Security
“Security authorities in Syria were informed about the plot and requested to send in specialists to provide them with information to help them take the necessary measures to avoid the exploitation of Syrian territory for terrorist training, said Shaikh Rashid
“During our visit to Syria on September 9, we conveyed to Syrian authorities similar information. We will discuss with our brothers the whole situation to help them thwart attempts to misuse their territory for subversive plots.
“As part of our keenness to reinforce security co-operation and co-ordination in combating terror, we have also brought to the attention of British authorities the dangerous and provocative practices and terror activities being carried out by a Bahraini who had been granted asylum in the UK and another one residing there.
“It is unfortunate that they are misusing their privileges to plot dangerous schemes that jeopardise Bahrain’s security, said Shaikh Rashid.
“Some of the accused were among those granted royal pardon recently.”
He also revealed that Britain had been notified and supplied with intelligence information to undertake necessary measures against the plotters.
Shaikh Rashid deplored that youngsters were being brainwashed and drawn into such terror groups. However, he dismissed any collective punitive measures against their families.
“A crime is individual rather than collective, as clearly stipulated in the constitution”, he said.
He also warned of an enormous challenge as more youngsters may be tempted to join such terror cells.
“I wouldn’t have convened this Press conference had the extent of the plot not been so dangerous and detrimental to Bahrain’s national security”, he said.
He also called for a firm stance to combat destructive designs, which had taken a far more dangerous dimension.
He also called on all parties to join ranks and insulate the youth against such destructive designs.
Shaikh Rashid also called for tougher laws to deter such terror crimes.
He urged legislations to be amended so as to tackle the threats challenging national security and ensure preventive measures against terror crimes.
He also urged all parties to step up co-ordination for such threats to be defeated.
Bahrain’s youngsters were also cautioned against embarking on such destructive doctrines.
Present at the Press conference were ministry assistant under-secretary for legal affairs Colonel Mohammed Rashid Bu Hamood, editors-in-chief of local newspapers and other media representatives.
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