A Bahraini riot police officer walks toward a row of burning tires set alight by Bahraini anti-government protesters on a street in Sehla, Bahrain, on Tuesday, April 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)
Manama, Asharq Al-Awsat—Bahrain announced that it has arrested four suspects after “terrorists” attacked the headquarters of the Council of Ministers with Molotov cocktails. A security source, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the condition of anonymity, claimed that at least 20 people were involved in the attack, which took place on Monday at 9 p.m. local time.
This attack represents the first incident of its kind since the beginning of the unrest that has swept the country since February 14, 2011.
The security source described this incident as a dangerous escalation by violent groups seeking to target high-profile sites to prove that they remain present on the ground. The source said that the attack on the Bahraini cabinet headquarters was a “desperate” attempt to sow violence in Bahrain, but stressed that Bahraini security authorities across the kingdom are more than capable of dealing with any such incidents.
The cabinet headquarters is located in central Manama, in a high-profile area with a lot of foot traffic thanks to the nearby Bab Al-Bahrain souq.
According to the source, “terrorists” attacked the southern entrance of the cabinet headquarters with Molotov cocktails. They were confronted by security guards and fled the scene following a short battle. The source added that the building has a CCTV system, which recorded the entire incident.
He also stated that after the attackers fled, Bahraini authorities were able to identify and arrest four of the alleged perpetrators within 12 hours of the incident. Investigations to identify and arrest the remaining attackers are ongoing.
The Bahrain Interior Ministry announced that there were no injuries or serious damage as a result of the attack.