Court issues verdicts against 7 terror suspects

Manama, Oct. 31 (BNA): Chief of the Terror Crime Prosecution, Advocate General Chancellor Dr. Ahmed Al-Hammadi, has announced that the fourth High Criminal Court today issued verdicts against seven terror suspects. The suspects were found guilty of running and joining a terrorist organisation that belonged to the so-called “Al-Ashtar Brigades” terrorist organisation, as well as of possessing and manufacturing explosives and possessing firearms and ammunition without a license from the Minister of Interior for terrorist purposes. They were also accused of receiving training on making and using weapons and explosive materials, in addition to funding terrorism. The court sentenced the first five suspects to life in jail, and handed down the sixth and seventh seven-year jail terms for the charges attributed to them. It also ordered the confiscation of the seized items. Court documents revealed that the first defendant, who is a member of the “Al-Ashtar Brigades” terrorist organisation, had recruited the fourth suspect to carry out terrorist crimes in Bahrain. He then arranged for his travel to Iraq, where he was trained at one of the camps of the so-called Iraqi “Kata'ib Hezbollah” on using firearms, as well as on making explosive materials and devices. He was also trained by the seventh defendant on monitoring security patrols. Investigations also proved that the fourth suspect had received military training in 2017, with the assistance and coordination of the sixth and second suspects. They also proved that the fourth suspect had recruited the fifth defendant to the terrorist organisation to support him in serving it. Investigations also showed that the fifth suspect had received military training in 2016 at the one of the camps of the so-called Iraqi “Kata'ib Hezbollah” terrorist organisation on using firearms, as well as on making explosive materials and devices. The fourth suspect was instructed by the first suspect to receive the explosive device and monitor the security patrols accompanying the oil tanker so as to target them. Then, the fourth and fifth defendants received the explosive device and inspected the stationing of the security patrols for the aim of targeting them. Case documents also showed that the third suspect had instructed the fifth defendant to receive and transport firearms and materials related to terrorist acts with the intent of disrupting the kingdom’s security and safety, and for terrorist purposes, Al-Hammadi said. The Advocate General affirmed that the Public Prosecution had relied in substantiating the accusations on verbal and technical evidences, including the witnesses’ testimonies and the suspects’ confession.