SECURITY forces conducted 105 counter-terrorism operations last year, resulting in 357 arrests, 42 raids and 19 plots foiled.
Details of the operations were revealed yesterday by Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa during an open meeting with clergymen, senior government officials, civil societies and elected and appointed legislators and municipal officials.
The minister said that a total of 357 people were arrested during counter-terrorism operations conducted throughout 2017, while large quantities of weapons and explosives were seized.
He also said that 19 terror plots, including assassination attempts, were foiled last year in co-ordination with the National Security Agency and other security bodies.
Shaikh Rashid explained that investigations have shown that terrorist acts were being committed in Bahrain by Iran and its affiliates, notably the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), through three main terrorist groups operating in the country: Saraya Al Ashtar (Al Ashtar Brigades), Saraya Al Mukhtar (The Chosen Brigades) and Saraya Al Muqawama Al Shabya (Popular Resistance Brigades). All three are collectively known as ‘Bahraini Hizbollah’.
He added that key suspects accused of masterminding these groups and orchestrating a number of attacks have fled the country, mainly to Iran, and were being hunted by international policing organisations.
“These groups have been internationally designated as terrorist organisations and their members as terrorists, having proven to the world that they have committed terrorist acts,” said Shaikh Rashid.
“The security authorities carried out 105 security missions, including the search of 42 sites and warehouses, with a total of 357 people being arrested and a large quantity of weapons, equipment and explosives seized.”
He also revealed that a total of 290 terrorists were referred to the Public Prosecution with investigations showing that many of them received training at camps belonging to the IRGC, Iraqi Mobilisation Forces and outlawed Lebanese group Hizbollah.
“Individuals inciting terrorism in Bahrain, who have no civil rights or rights to stay amongst us, will be held accountable and if the countries they are living in do not co-operate with Interpol and ignore the Red Notice or bilateral co-ordination then we will seek other measures,” he added.
“A comprehensive operation was initiated to gather information about the active organisations and their members, in co-ordination with the National Security Agency and other security bodies.
“The sacrifices of policemen and security personnel have enabled us to confront (difficult situations) for the truth to be revealed and we have undergone hardships to control and correct the situation.”
Shaikh Rashid said a major security operation conducted last year helped identify 47 key terrorists who were plotting against Bahrain.
“After a vigorous operation, the targets were identified and classified according to the dangers they posed,” he explained.
“Thereafter, a security plan was put in place to target the sources of risks and threats to the homeland on the security map.
“It was the most important preventive security operation and essentially achieved the arrests of 47 main terrorists – most of them are members of the three terrorist groups.
“The observation of the situation as it developed and the ongoing security operations showed that terror cells were responsible for storing weapons and bomb-making materials while also transporting and distributing bombs and cash.”
He said it was essential to not only investigate terror cells operating in the country but also address the incitement of extremism and sectarianism among citizens and to encourage the spirit of nationalism to counteract such attacks.
“We managed to foil 19 planned terrorist plots last year that included foiling of terrorist crimes including attempts to assassinate officials and public figures, targeting of policemen, arson, and vandalism targeting oil establishments,” said Shaikh Rashid.
“Operations continued for several months and even as it was ongoing some terrorist incidents occurred such as the oil pipeline blast in Buri in November.
“This followed other major incidents that saw an escape from Jaw Prison on New Year’s Day last year and the martyrdom of (prison guard) Abdulsalam Saif, the assassination of First Lieutenant Hisham Al Hammadi in February in a farm, an attack on a police patrol in Duraz in June, and the martyrdom of policeman Abdulsamad Haji, and the remote attack on a bus carrying public security personnel that has led to the martyrdom of policeman Salman Anjam.
“With developments on the security front, efforts have been intensified and operations co-ordinated to limit any escalation in the security situation.
“The general indications at present show stability in the security situation in Bahrain.
“There is nothing more painful than losing men who sacrifice their lives for the nation, except for losing (an entire) nation and this will not be allowed.”
The GDN previously reported that Saraya Al Ashtar and Saraya Al Mukhtar were designated as terrorist organisations by the UK in December.
Network
Saraya Al Ashtar, which has in the past claimed responsibility for a spate of fatal terrorist attacks, has created a network of terror cells operating in Bahrain with many of them answering to Murtadha Al Sindi, a convicted terrorist who masterminded fatal police attacks and was branded a global terrorist by the US last March.
Al Sindi was previously found guilty of running terrorist cells in co-operation with Iranian intelligence services and the Al Sadr Movement in Iraq.
He was handed the death penalty on December 25 in absentia, along with five others, for carrying out terrorist attacks and attempting to assassinate the head of the military.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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