MANAMA, (Reuters) – Gulf Arab state Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, said it had arrested two people suspected of planning terrorist acts in Bahrain and the region, the country’s official news agency said late on Thursday.
Bahrain’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa said weapons and ammunitions were found in the two suspects’ houses. They were arrested on April 26. He said the pair had admitted owning weapons and ammunition and would remain in detention while an investigation was carried out. Authorities did not give the nationalities of those held.
Bahrain in December said it had arrested a group of suspects it accused of planning to overthrow the government. The group was later put on trial together with political activists.
Human rights groups said the trial served to muzzle protesters and government critics. The government denied those claims. Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa pardoned the group in April.
Bahrain is a close ally of the United States and has good relations with neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter.