Blast suspects to face trial on April 7

Manama, Mar. 4 – (BNA): The Chief of Terror Crime Prosecution, Advocate General Ahmed Al Hammadi, said the Prosecution has completed its investigations into the case of the terror group that carried out several bomb blasts targeting security personnel in Al Qarya area and Jannabiya Highway. The group of terrorists carried out six bomb blasts in 2013 and 2014. They planted and concealed bombs, held rallies and riots, set rubbish containers and tyres ablaze on public streets to lure policemen and remotely detonated the explosives via mobile phones, causing injuries to several security men and damaging Ministry of Interior vehicles and private cars. Search and investigations led to the identification of 14 suspects, including two Asians. One of the Asian suspects was employed by one of the other suspects. The two Asians had acquired several phone chips by assuming the identities of other people and forging their signatures on the relevant forms. The chips were used in the blasts. All suspects were arrested, some of them in possession of devices used in making explosive packages, firearms and ammunition. The first suspect guided the investigators to where an explosive device had been buried in an open space and to firearms and detonation equipment that were hidden in the Janabiya and Al Zahra community centres (maatems). All the devices were seized during an inspection operation authorized by the Public Prosecution. The Public Prosecution listened to the witnesses and the victims in the blasts. All suspects were questioned and most of them admitted the incidents attributed to them. Forensic lab and crime scene experts were assigned to pick up traces from the explosives. They concluded that the third suspect‘s DNA was matched the cells collected from one of explosive casings. The fingerprints of several suspects were also identical with the ones collected from these casings. The Prosecution charged 12 suspects with the premeditated attempt to kill on-duty policemen, causing blasts, possessing and using explosives without license in order to terrify and jeopardize the lives of civilians and to damage private property, violating public security and order, deliberate arson and acts of destruction for terrorist purposes. The 13th suspect was charged with malicious usage of a valid ID card in the name of another person and utilizing it to purchase the phone chip used in one of the blasts. The suspect was not aware of the criminal purpose. The 14th suspect was charged with maliciously forging the signature of another person and utilizing it in purchasing mobile chips, one of which was used in a blast. The suspect was not aware of the criminal purpose. The Prosecution referred suspects one to 12 in custody to the High Criminal Court and the trial was set for April 7.