TWO Bahrainis have been charged with a bomb plot targeting a police patrol.

The defendants, aged 23 and 26, are already in Jaw Prison for similar crimes – with one of them serving a 35-year sentence in total.

They are now standing trial for an attempted bombing targeting a police vehicle in Nuwaidrat on June 26, 2014.

However, the bomb was detected and defused before it was detonated.

One of the defendants admitted during questioning that he was part of the plot.

“In mid-2014, I don’t remember precisely when, my friend picked me up in Nuwaidrat and when I got in the car I saw an object on the back seat,” the 23-year-old defendant told prosecutors in his statement.

“It was a fire extinguisher with electrical wires and a cell phone attached to it.

“He told me he planned on planting the bomb at the Nuwaidrat entrance and he wanted me to help him, so I agreed.

“The plan was to plant the bomb at the entrance targeting the police patrol stationed there, the bomb was in the car and I agreed.

“The police patrol would always be stationed at the entrance but they sometimes move around for a few hours before coming back.

“So we agreed to plant the bomb when they were not there and drive around until we see them come back to detonate the bomb.”

The 23-year-old, who has already been sentenced to 35 years in jail, claimed he didn’t know who made the bomb.

“I don’t know who made the bomb, but I agreed to participate in the operation,” he added.

According to court documents, the defendants wore masks when they planted the explosive device.

The 26-year-old has denied the charge, despite his DNA being lifted from the mobile phone that was supposed to detonate the bomb, the Public Prosecution said.

It added the defendants were identified after a four-year investigation, which included a tip-off from secret sources.

The trial was yesterday adjourned until September 6.

reem@gdn.com.bh