A BAHRAINI accused of being part of a terrorist cell has admitted the group was funded with money provided by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of the Iranian military.
The 24-year-old said fridges were used to store explosives at a secret weapons bunker – and revealed the network spied for Tehran by taking photographs of sensitive sites.
He is among nine men charged with being part of the network, receiving militia training abroad and possessing weapons and explosives.
Six of them are in custody, while three others accused of masterminding the operation are still at large and being tried in absentia.
The six in custody appeared at Bahrain’s High Criminal Court yesterday to deny the charges.
However, the 24-year-old previously confessed during questioning.
“I received money from my friend (one of those still at large) and he told me he got it from the IRGC,” he said in his statement to prosecutors.
“I was assigned to set up a weapons depot and was told to use the money to do so.
“We prepared the warehouse and set up fridges to store bombs and explosives.
“My two friends helped set up the warehouse.
“In addition, they took pictures of key locations in Bahrain and sent them to our counterparts in Iran.”
Alleged members of the cell are accused of undergoing militia training in Iran in both 2018 and 2019.
A police detective said they were planning attacks on targets such as ATM machines, policemen and official establishments. “The (three) defendants at large in Iran established a terrorist cell with help from the IRGC,” the officer said in his statement to prosecutors.
“They planned to carry out attacks in Bahrain.
Smuggled
“They recruited their co-defendants and supplied large sums of money using dead drops around the country.
“They also smuggled bombs and firearms with help of the IRGC, which were going to be used in police attacks.
“The IRGC also funded the terrorist cell’s weapons warehouses to store firearms and explosives.
“The illicit group planned to assassinate policemen, blow up ATM machines and key establishments.
“They carried out surveillance on streets in Bahrain and key locations, which they monitored.
“The masterminds helped their co-defendants travel to Iran in 2018 and 2019 to receive militia training.”
The trial has been adjourned until December 10 for review.
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