Manama: Bahrain’s Public Security Chief Major-General Tariq Al Hassan said that five more suspects had been arrested in the case of smuggling explosives and detonators into Saudi Arabia.
Two suspects were arrested by Saudi authorities early on Friday on King Fahad Causeway as they were driving a car in which 14 bags containing highly explosive RDX paste and 50 detonators were hidden.
Al Hassan said that a task force representing several agencies in the interior ministry was formed to look into the case and coordinate with the Saudi authorities.
“Several houses of the suspects were searched after warrants were obtained from the Public Prosecution,” he said. “This led to the confiscation of materials suspected to be explosives, mobile phones, laptops, portable hard disks, cameras, Iranian mobile phone chips and Saudi, Jordanian and Iranian currencies. Five additional individuals suspected in the case were identified and arrested. Documents on bomb-making and military patrols were also found inside the homes. The investigation will continue until all suspects are identified and arrested,” he said in a statement.
Al Hassan added that the items confiscated by the Saudi officials on Friday were similar to the materials that Bahrain police seized on a boat coming from the sea on December 28, 2013 and on a bus coming into the kingdom via the King Fahad causeway on March 15. Suspects in both of those cases have been arrested.
He said that RDX was a highly explosive substance that was not easily available or easy to manufacture.
“Bahrain and Saudi Arabia security officials are working together to pursue the remaining individuals involved in order to determine the scope of the operation. Both kingdoms enjoy a high level of cooperation that has contributed to many successful investigations in the past,” he said as he commended the alertness of the Saudi authorities. “Further cooperation is required between friendly countries in the region in order face current security issues.”
