Terror alert won’t include Bahrain
By MANDEEP SINGH and NOOR TOORANI
US diplomats say a security warning to Americans in Kuwait is not being extended to Bahrain. The US State Department warned on Tuesday that Westerners in Kuwait could become targets following the arrest of an alleged Al Qaeda-linked terror cell. It urged Americans in Kuwait to be vigilant and take steps to increase their own security, warning that extremists could be conducting surveillance of Westerners – particularly at hotels, residential areas and rental car facilities.
Terror alert won’t include Bahrain
By MANDEEP SINGH and NOOR TOORANI
US diplomats say a security warning to Americans in Kuwait is not being extended to Bahrain. The US State Department warned on Tuesday that Westerners in Kuwait could become targets following the arrest of an alleged Al Qaeda-linked terror cell. It urged Americans in Kuwait to be vigilant and take steps to increase their own security, warning that extremists could be conducting surveillance of Westerners – particularly at hotels, residential areas and rental car facilities.
US contractors were also listed as potential targets, particularly those related to military interests, as well as financial and economic institutions.
“There are indications that terrorist groups seek to continue attacks against US interests in the Middle East, including Kuwait,” said a State Department message circulated by the US Embassy in Kuwait.
But diplomats have told Americ-ans in Bahrain not to panic and said there were no similar warnings here – even though two Bahrainis are currently standing trial for allegedly plotting to attack US vessels and personnel at Mina Salman.
The reassurance came even though a lawyer of one of the Bahraini suspects confirmed his client corresponded with and met one of the six terror suspects rounded up in Kuwait.
“There is no alert for Bahrain,” said a US Embassy spokeswoman.
“The only alert is for Kuwait at the moment and when, if at all, there is one for Bahrain it will immediately be available on the embassy website.”
The Kuwait warning came after authorities claimed they foiled an alleged Al Qaeda plot to attack the main US military base in Kuwait.
Those arrests took place last week, four months after the two Bahrainis were arrested for allegedly plotting a similar attack on US military vessels.
They are now standing trial for allegedly smuggling weap-ons into the country and plotting a deadly assault.
Their lawyer has confirmed one of the Bahrainis, a 22-year-old originally from Jordan, admitted to meeting one of the six Kuwaitis who was arrested last week.
Abdulla Hashim said his client met the Kuwaiti in an Internet chat room where they discussed ideas, stories and jihad.
He confirmed the men later met once in Kuwait briefly, but claimed it was merely a “social visit.”
“This doesn’t mean that my client is a member of Al Qaeda or that he plotted an attack with this Kuwaiti man,” he said.
The Bahraini and his 21-year-old accomplice were arrested after police allegedly seized machine guns, weapons, computer discs and other evidence from their homes in East Riffa.
They were arrested after National Security Agency received information that the 22-year-old had intensified contacts with a cell in Iran.
He then led police to the other defendant, a junior customs officer, who allegedly possessed the smuggled weapons.
Both deny plotting attacks and smuggling weapons and ammunition into the country.
The Bahrain arrests took place on the same day that the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix was taking place in April.
However, two months later families of US servicemen were allowed back to Bahrain after being ordered home in 2004 amid security fears.
The latest travel alert for US nationals in the Gulf was issued on February 11 and warned Americans about heightened security concerns.
It reminded those travelling to or already in the region to maintain high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.
US Navy officials in Bahrain declined to comment on the security situation yesterday.
mandeep@gdn.com.bh
noor@gdn.com.bh
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