47 Arrested in Counterterrorism Operation in Bahrain

(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) A counterterrorism operation conducted by Bahrain's security authorities has resulted in the identification of a terrorist network and the arrest of 47 suspects. Security authorities confirmed that the arrests disrupted a number of sizable terrorist attacks planned for the near future.

A range of high-grade explosives, bomb making materials and weapons were seized from several locations within populated residential areas. In addition to the materials seized, a bomb-making facility and an explosives laboratory were discovered, Bahrain Interior Ministry said in a statement carried by Bahrain News Agency (BNA).

Among the seizures were homemade bombs and raw bomb-making materials, including C4, TATP, Urea Nitrate, and Nitro Cellulose. Ammunition and anti-personnel bomb molds were also seized along with partially constructed armor-piercing explosive devices, which were likely to be used as Vehicle-Improvised Explosive Devices (VIEDs).

The investigation and several surveillance operations have revealed that, as with previous terrorist incidents in 2015, the suspects arrested hold strong connections with terrorist organizations in Iran, the statement said.

Over the past six months multiple seizures of explosives, homemade IED and VIEDs, bomb-manufacturing equipment and caches of arms and ammunition have been directly linked to Iranian-backed extremists who intended to use the materials in terror attacks in Bahrain, the statement added.