A BAHRAINI policeman received death threats days before he was shot to death, according to his family.
First Lieutenant Hisham Al Hammadi, aged 27, was off duty when he was shot multiple times in his own farm in Bilad Al Qadeem on January 29.
Outlawed group Saraya Al Ashtar has claimed responsibility for the shooting, which the police has branded as a terrorist act.
Mr Al Hammadi’s family have broken their silence during an exclusive interview with the GDN, revealing that he was shot twice in the back and that someone had called him to the village the night before.
“A week before he told me that some men, while having tea with him in the village, threatened to take revenge for the government’s execution of three men,” said his wife Muneera Jassim Al Hammadi.
“His mother and I told him to be careful, but he said he trusted them as friends.”
The 22-year-old said her husband purchased the farm in partnership with his friend last year and visited the facility everyday to feed the animals.
Unusual
“He never stayed there, but he went there everyday to feed his animals whom he loved, but he never went alone,” said the grieving mother-of-three.
“On January 28 he was out with friends for lunch and never came home - I tried calling him several times but he never answered which was unusual.
“He was supposed to be on duty at 9am on January 29, so his friend, the co-owner of the farm, said he would check the farm before going to work.
“He found him dead in front of the farm.
“I believe it was a plot - it was planned and well executed.”
The young widow was with Mr Al Hammadi’s three sisters - Luma, Walaa and Amal - during the interview with the GDN at her home in Hajiyat.
“There was an Indian national who was the caretaker of the farm, but he left last month because he was troubled by the people around,” said Luma Al Hammadi yesterday (Feb 4).
“Hisham never went to the farm alone, so we are sure someone must have called him to go there that evening.
“I saw his body - he was shot in the back twice, unlike the rumours.
“There were 14 shots in total, two in his back from which he bled to death, seven bullet holes in his car that was parked outside and the rest on the walls of the farm.
“This means they shot him like cowards and left him to bleed to death.”
They plan to sell the farm once the police investigation is over fearing they would be targeted again, added Luma.
“We’ve heard rumours spreading out Hisham; that he accidentally killed himself while cleaning his gun and that he was a drug addict and committed suicide,” said Walaa Al Hammadi.
“This is all untrue - my brother was murdered and we hope for justice.
“We feel helpless as his eldest son, Mohammed, keeps insisting on seeing his father.”
Mr Al Hammadi’s father Hassan Al Hammadi, a retired government official, said his greatest fear had come true - explaining that he was always concerned for his son’s life due to the nature of his job.
“It has been tough for the family because of the way he died,” said the 72-year-old Bahraini, who was abroad with his wife Fouzia, when the attack happened.
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