A teenager who tried to set fire to a police station because he was in a “bad mood” has been jailed for three years.
The 18-year-old carried out an arson attack on Khamis police station on February 10 this year following an argument with his parents and girlfriend.
The High Criminal Court found him guilty of arson and making and possessing Molotov cocktails.
According to court documents, the defendant admitted to carrying out the arson attack.
He said he flew into a fit of rage after his family members and girlfriend nagged him and complained about his ‘bad behaviour’.
He claimed that he sent a video of the incident to his girlfriend to ‘show off’.
“The defendant was found guilty due to sufficient evidence against him,” read the court ruling.
“He filled 1.5 litres of petrol from a fuel station in Khamis, pretending that he needed it for his motorcycle.
“He then went to Khamis police station and threw firebombs at it before fleeing on foot.”
The defendant, who was apprehended after his fingerprints were lifted from a firebomb, claimed he had started making Molotov cocktails when he was eight years old.
He used his grandmother’s mobile phone to call the police, gave them a false name and said that he had carried out the attack.
“I was quite agitated on that day as I had fought with my parents and girlfriend,” he told prosecutors.
“I thought of burning down the police station and filming the incident.
“I went to a petrol station and filled plastic bottles with 1.5 litres of petrol.
“I went with a friend to the police station and he filmed me throwing Molotov cocktails at the building.
“I then sent the video to my girlfriend and rang up the police using my grandmother’s phone.
“I told them that my name was Mohammed Hussein, and admitted to carrying out the arson attack.”
The defendant was also fined BD1,000 by the same court.
A 26-year-old Bahraini, who was standing trial for being an accomplice in the same case, has been acquitted due to lack of evidence.
noorz@gdnmedia.bh