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Bahrain: US’ Enlisted SDGT, Germany’s Arrested Terrorist Linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Bahrain’s national flag, Asharq Al-Awsat archives


Manama- Bahrain’s Chief of the Terror Crime Prosecution Advocate General Ahmed Al Hammadi confirmed the conviction of three Bahraini suspects (two declared by the United States State Department as Specially Designated Global Terrorists and one arrested by the German police in Berlin) are accused of joining terror groups affiliated with Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard, reported the Bahrain state-owned news agency BNA.

The suspects were found linked to or associated with terror activities away from legal political work or peaceful freedom of expression.

In a press release, Hammadi reviewed procedures taken by US authorities designating Ahmad Hassan Yusuf and Sayed Murtadha Majeed Ramadhan Alawi as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224.

Hammadi backed US steps taken in charging Iran with providing weapons, funding, and training to militants. He pointed out that Yusuf and Alawi are prominent leaders in the terrorist Al-Ashtar Brigades (AAB), adding that the German police also arrested Fayadh Mohammed Al-Shewikh who was seeking asylum.

Hammadi said international arrest warrants had been issued for the three suspects after they were accused of committing terror acts.

He described the US and German procedures, in coordination with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), a key step in international cooperation on counterterrorism efforts.

Hammadi revealed that Alawi, 34, is a wanted fugitive on the run from seven judicial verdicts amounting to 84 years and six months in prison after he was convicted of setting up and running terror cells in collaboration with the Iranian Intelligence and members of the Iraq-based Sadrist Movement.

Alawi was also convicted of possessing and using explosives, funding terror groups, and harboring terror convicts.

Next to that, Alawi was found guilty of inciting terror crimes and national treason by exchanging intelligence information with a foreign country and plotting hostile acts against Bahrain.

Hammadi added that Alawi is being tried in absentia in five other terror cases, including Dhu Al-Faqqar Terror Brigades, Al-Basta Terror Group Organization and Sitra bus explosion.

Alawi is one of the leaders of terror ring exposed on March 4, adding that the case is still being investigated by public prosecution, Hammadi said.

At least 54 terrorists are associated with the abovementioned case, including 12 fugitives in Iran and Iraq and 41 suspects in Bahrain, of whom 25 have been arrested.

Public prosecution settled 16 accusations against Alawi and the other suspects, including setting up, organizing and running a terror group, intentional murder of police officers and attempted murder of others, importing, possessing and using explosives and firearms and training on using them, helping convicts to escape, damaging and stealing properties, resisting the authorities and attacking law enforcers, escaping from prison and harboring terror elements, BNA reported.

The Chief of Terror Prosecution said that the second suspect, Yusuf, 31, is escaping a 15-year-in-jail sentence after being convicted of joining a terror group, possession and manufacture of explosives.

Hammadi added that Yusuf, alongside other suspects, had formed a terror cell which targeted banking institutions in 2013, including the National Bank of Bahrain’s ATM–Sanad branch.

Yusuf is also being tried in absentia in Dhu Al- Faqqar Terror Brigades case which is heard by the High Criminal Court, added Hammadi.

The third suspect, 27-year-old Shewikh arrested by German police in Berlin, is an internationally wanted terrorist.

Shewikh known to be one of the leaders of a 54-member terror organization set up by fugitives presiding in each of Iran and Iraq, including mainly Murtadha Al-Sindi.

Hammadi said investigations and the confessions of those who had been arrested showed Shewikh’s direct involvement, from his residence in Germany, with easing travel processed of members of the organization to Iran and Iraq for training in explosives at Revolutionary Guard’s camps. The recruits were tasked with staging terror crimes in Bahrain.