Bahrain Rattled by Bombings Near Royal Palaces, Sunni Mosque

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

A bombing outside a mosque near the royal palaces has rattled Bahrain, prompting authorities and main opposition groups in the violence-wracked Gulf kingdom to denounce the attack.

No one was injured in the blast, which struck late Wednesday in the mosque parking lot during evening prayers. But it was a rare explosion near the site of the royal residences, pointing to widening attacks by militant factions as part of the 29-month unrest.

Meanwhile, a car bomb exploded outside a Sunni mosque in a Bahrain neighborhood where the royal court is situated but caused no casualties, the interior ministry said.

The bomb, made from a gas cylinder, exploded late Wednesday in the parking area of the Isa bin Salman mosque in the Rifaa neighborhood, south of the capital Manama, the ministry said.

"The terrorist act took place while prayers were held in the mosque," it said.

Government spokeswoman Samira Rajab said Thursday the explosion was "an attempt to create chaos" in Bahrain.

"This is a despicable terrorist act intended to undermine national unity and sow sectarian sedition," said Rajab.

The interior ministry announced it has banned a rally which was planned by the opposition for Friday in the Shiite villages of Khamis and Sar.

Legal action will be taken against violators, a ministry statement warned.

Witnesses said the blast site was close to the royal court of the Sunni dynasty that rules Shiite-majority Bahrain.

Militants from the disgruntled Shiite majority are usually blamed for unrest in the Gulf kingdom, where confrontations between police and Shiite protesters are frequent.

King Hamad issued a statement late Wednesday condemning the attack and ordering security forces to hunt the culprits and the "instigators".

"The people of Bahrain have had enough and have run out of patience over such acts that are strange to the people of Bahrain and their morals," he said.

The Shiite opposition, led by the influential Al-Wefaq bloc, condemned the blast, rejecting "any act intended to terrorize the innocent" and insisting on finding a "peaceful solution" to the kingdom's political impasse.

The latest bombing comes amid an escalation in attacks on police in Shiite villages, using homemade explosive devices and petrol bombs, according to authorities.

Last week, four policemen were wounded in a bombing outside the Shiite village of Janabiyah, just weeks after an explosion killed a policeman and wounded two others in the area of Sitra.

Protests remain frequent in Shiite villages despite a heavy-handed crackdown in March 2011 that quelled a month-long protest inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings.

At least 80 people have been killed in Bahrain since the protests erupted, according to the International Federation for Human Rights.

Comments 20
Thumb Roaring-FlameThrower 18 July 2013, 10:56

God Bless the Bahraini Shia "Peaceful" revolution against the tyrannical rulers of the GCC. May the Lord strengthen their "Gandhi-Style" uprising to achieve freedom and independence and establish a truly "Iranian-Style" democratic State in Bahrain.

Thumb _mowaten_ 18 July 2013, 11:44

God bless the bahraini democratic king against his ungrateful people of vilains. These explosions are the very proof that three years of peaceful demonstrations were merely a cover, hiding much more vicious intentions. Today we can all see that the great democratic king and his imported pakistani police were absolutely right to kill, maim, torture and arrest political dissenters.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 18 July 2013, 13:01

God bless the Syrian democratic prez against his ungrateful people of vilains. Those carrying arms are the very proof that years of peaceful demonstrations were merely a cover, hiding much more vicious intentions. Today we can all see that the great democratic prez and his imported Iranian and HA police were absolutely right to kill, maim, torture and arrest political dissenters.

Thumb _mowaten_ 18 July 2013, 15:10

nice copy paste arzak, shows a lot of creativity :)

slight difference though, in syria the takfiris and mercenaries infiltrated the protests from the start and shot at security forces to force them to retaliate.

also, in syria, the army is 80% sunni, reflecting the country, whereas in bahrain they imported pakistanis to incorporate them in the police, making the police 90% sunni when the country is 90% shia.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 18 July 2013, 15:48

Again we will go into this convo. There might have individual cases of violence in the beginning. But if you believe that weapons were imported into Syria in preparation for the uprising you are dead wrong. Syria was ruled by the mukhabarat. One could not mention the word Assad without being brought in for "questioning" and a few electric shocks. If you passed gas they would know what time and the consistency of the air. So to tell me massive shipments of weapons were brought in under their nose is ridiculous. Sure you had countries that them supported with weapons later. But at first it was 99% peaceful and YouTube is loaded with videos showing peaceful protestors being attacked.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 18 July 2013, 15:52

80% of the army is Sunni. If you are talking about regular soldiers I agree. I hope you are not referring to the real men in charge because that is laughable. 80% of those 80% were locked in bases. And largely the elite alawi troops are the ones fighting. Therefore now the Syrian army (fighting force) is largely from the minority alawis. And have been importing Iranian and HA troops to cover the difference.

Thumb liberty 18 July 2013, 16:30

@arzak: ask this paid mouthpiece of iran why he focused on the army % in syria. It is obvious the syrian army would be 80% Sunni, coz there is NOT enough Alwai and Chia to join the army. However, does the same % he mentioned, apply to government jobs, privileged positions, army top brass, licenses for businesses such as telecom, gold, money exchangers, hotel owners, oil exploration etc.

Thumb _mowaten_ 18 July 2013, 17:00

arzak i think you fantasize a lot about the moukhabarat, all that has been going on is proof that they werent that much in control. also in deraa it was right next to jordan with hundreds and hundreds of kilometers of border in the desert. if you think smuggling some weapons to shoot at protesters and security forces to ignite the situation is beyond possible than you are very naive. (dont forget that many other secret services were likely involved, and any security measures can be circumvented.

anonyme: more fantasy, i think you should look into the reality of the situation in bahrain if you want to be credible.

liberty: yes absolutely, just look at key government figures for instance, it is open information

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 18 July 2013, 17:29

Mowaten. Ask any Syrian about the mukhabarat and they will tell you that it is far from fantasy. The Syrian people have a legitimate right in rising up against Assad and the Ba'ath. After all the majority of Syrians lived in appalling poverty. Again I will say that I agree there might have been the odd trouble makers but in the beginning was largely peaceful. And was met by the iron fist of Assad. Riddle me this. Why are ALL Arab springs legit in the eyes of HA EXCEPT Syria? Why did they want the direct overthrow of every leader but propose a political solution in Syria? Why are all top positions monopolized by Assad and the alawites? Why were there never true elections if Assad "knows" he has popular support.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 18 July 2013, 17:29

There was no conspiracy my friend. This was a true uprising. That later got taken advantage of because of assad's viciousness. And the only thing holding him in place is Russian. Iranian. And HA support. If the battle was on more of a level playing field Assad would have been gone ages ago.

Missing helicopter 18 July 2013, 18:23

Mowaten,
Were you with the Syrian revolution on day one before it was infiltrated by outside Islamists? The answer is NO.
The fact that 80% od the Syrian army is made up of Sunnis is an indication that the Sunnis are less Sectarian than the Bahraini Shiites who are either unwilling to serve or can not be trusted to Serve.
I am not defending the Bahraini regime, all our Middle-Eastern regimes are backward including your Iranian and Syrian regimes.

Missing beirutbastard00 18 July 2013, 18:39

The Bahraini Shia are not allowed to enlist in the army, or police force. Sure, the king throws caviar crumbs at the, but they are still second class citizens. What happens if the money dries up?... @texas, sometimes no amount of money is worth your dignity.

Where was the outrage when Saudi, a different country, sent in its army to crush the protesters. And don't forget, not one gun was fired by them! They deserve to have their demands met. If not, I don't blame them for what happens next.

In Syria, Assad has to go, and even if he somehow stays, his absolute power is gone. The protests in Syria quickly turned into an armed uprising. In Bahrain, after three years, they still condemned the use of violence! U have to respect that.

Missing beirutbastard00 18 July 2013, 21:19

Texas... I didn't say it was bad living there, and why are u comparing bashar to Bahrain? Why can't the majority in Syria get their demands, and the majority in Bahrain get theirs??

So if bashar is a dictator on his way out, what does that have to do with a population in Bahrain, that feel wronged by their government!

Missing youssefhaddad 18 July 2013, 12:23

The methods are the same and those who benefit from these explosions are the same.

Thumb primesuspect 18 July 2013, 14:20

hizballa is most likely behind the attacks.

Missing helicopter 18 July 2013, 18:34

Common distructive,
About the child in the Republic of Cong, it was fathered by a Zionist (ask HA officials if you do not believe me).

Missing helicopter 18 July 2013, 18:35

Common distructive,
About the child in the Republic of Cong, it was fathered by a Zionist (ask HA officials if you do not believe me).

Missing beirutbastard00 18 July 2013, 18:48

No the Zionist didnt father the baby, he just owns the gold and diamond mines that will in salve it :)

Missing gcb1 18 July 2013, 22:08

Lol you people are hilarious.

The same arguments are being said on Bahrain and Syria, except with people on opposite sides.

Missing gcb1 18 July 2013, 22:09

M14 supporter: - The Syrian opposition is legitimate, and all problems are the fault of the Syrian regime. The Bahrain opposition is funded by foreigners, and most Bahrainis live perfectly fine!

M8 supporter: The Bahrain opposition is legitimate, and all problems are the fault of the Bahrain regime. The Syrian opposition is funded by foreigners, and most Syrians live fine!