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Terror plot suspect works for Customs
By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
ONE of two men arrested on suspicion of being part of a terrorist cell actually works for the Interior Ministry.
The 22-year-old Bahraini, who was detained after police seized machine guns and other weapons, was employed as a junior customs officer.
He and another man, a 22-year-old unemployed Bahraini, were arrested on April 26 – the same day that Bahrain was hosting the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
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Terror plot suspect works for Customs
By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
ONE of two men arrested on suspicion of being part of a terrorist cell actually works for the Interior Ministry.
The 22-year-old Bahraini, who was detained after police seized machine guns and other weapons, was employed as a junior customs officer.
He and another man, a 22-year-old unemployed Bahraini, were arrested on April 26 – the same day that Bahrain was hosting the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) chief executive officer Martin Whitaker told the GDN that track officials had no knowledge of the anti-terror swoop.
“I have no information about this,” he said.
The two suspects, who both live in East Riffa, were planning terrorist attacks in Bahrain and other Gulf countries, Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said on Thursday.
Confiscated
Police say they confiscated two machine guns, a pistol, bullets, knives and swords from the men’s homes.
They also seized tapes, CDs, computers, bank statements and exchange company documents.
A lawyer for one of the suspects, the Customs officer, revealed he was still awaiting interrogation documents from the Public Prosecution yesterday.
Abdulla Hashim said the fact that the arrests were only announced on Thursday, a day before the Labour Day holiday weekend, meant there were no prosecution staff to handle requests for information.
“There are no employees to receive our applications to look at files and despite being appointed as lawyers, myself and Fareed Ghazi (who is representing the second suspect) were unable to know anything about the interrogation process,” he said.
“The Public Prosecution has already interrogated our defendants and now the only thing we can do is wait for court hearings.
“Monday will be the first time we can look into the questions and answers, which should have seen earlier.
“The closure of offices meant we had to wait without being able to do a thing.”
The suspects were arrested after allegedly intensifying contacts with members of the terror cell abroad, travelling to a neighbouring Arab country, buying weapons and ammunition and smuggling them to the country.
The Public Prosecution issued arrest warrants after security forces uncovered the alleged plot.
Both men have reportedly confessed to plotting terrorist attacks during interrogation and allegedly gave names of accomplices in Arab and other foreign countries.
They have been remanded in custody for 15 days while investigations continue.
“It is still unclear what was the manner of interrogation and the type of questions asked – and whether our defendants confessed to the accusations directly or indirectly,” said Mr Hashim.
Hearings
“As lawyers, we have the right to follow up the case day by day.
“Unfortunately, now the interrogation is over and we have a lot to catch up with before the court hearings start.
“Remanding our defendants in custody after confessing is also something we are planning to look into, since the Public Prosecution claims they confessed and gave all the necessary information it needs.”
He added the men were being held at an undisclosed location and had been denied contact with their families since their arrest.
alaali@gdn.com.bh
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