25 sentenced for forming, joining terror group

Manama, Apr. 19 (BNA): The Fourth Criminal Court today handed down different sentences to 25 defendants on charges of joining a terrorist group, bombing, attempted murder, training to use weapons and explosives, possessing, making and using unlicensed explosives and firearms; financing a terrorist group, and damaging public funds, Chief of Terror Crimes Prosecution Advocate General Ahmed Al Hammadi, stated. Al-Hammadi said the court issued life imprisonment to ten defendants; ten year imprisonment to ten defendants; five year imprisonment to three defendants, and three year imprisonment to one defendant. The court also ordered the revocation of the citizenship of 24 defendants. Investigations revealed that leaders of Saraya Al-Ashtar (Ashtar Brigade), who are fugitives and operating from abroad, have recruited a number of individuals to form a group to resume carrying out terrorist acts in Bahrain. The new recruits were engaged in military training in Iraq and Iran on the use of weapons, making explosives, monitoring the movements of leading figures, police patrols and vital places in Bahrain, and preparing several places for storing weapons and explosives smuggled into the country. The leaders of Saraya Al-Ashtar had financed the terrorist group and supplied it with explosives and weapons. The explosives and weapons were seized from houses of some defendants and other places used as storage space. Investigation concluded that 25 defendants were involved in the new terror group. Fourteen of them were arrested and a notice was issued for the arrest of the remaining defendants. The defendants admitted the charges. The Public Prosecution had based its charges on victims’ testimonies, investigations, seized items; defendants’ confessions; technical and medical reports and incident reconstruction.