Police and the law enforcement agencies were still trying to establish the possible cause and reason behind an explosion took place in wee hours on Sunday near the British Embassy Compound which is also an official residence of the Ambassador.
“The explosion that was heard just after midnight in the Ras Ruman area in Manama was caused by an explosive placed under the front wheel of a bus parked 50 metres away from the building of the British Embassy in Manama,” Interior Ministry Spokesman Salah Salim told a media conference on Sunday.
After an explosion in the Ras Ruman area of Bahrain’s capital around midnight last night, the Ministry of Interior held a press conference at the Officer’s Club to inform the media about the case which is under investigation. Lieutenant-Colonel Mohammed Bindaina introduced the MOI spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Saleh Salem who made a brief statement.
According to Lieutenant-Colonel Salem, Police opened the investigation into the explosion as soon as it was reported with the assistance of the forensic lab team. The explosion was caused by a highly explosive device placed under the front left wheel of a minibus that was parked in a parking area on Al Hokoma road near the British Embassy in Manama. The explosion led to the wheel being blown off, along with damages to the front of the vehicle. The front and left side glass was also shattered.
The explosion created a hole with a diameter of around 30 cm under the vehicle on the driver’s side of the vehicle with the wheel being blown off and front and side glass broken. Five other cars parked in the area also received damages. Fortunately there were no injuries or casualties.
Debris from the explosion was found at a distance of 32 meters from the point of impact which opened a hole measuring 30 centimeters in diameter under the driver’s side of the vehicle.
In response to the explosion which was approximately 50 meters from the British Embassy, the Ministry of Interior immediately secured and reinforced the headquarters of embassies in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The MOI spokesperson asked citizens and residents to immediately report any suspicious car stationed near vital establishments in the Kingdom. The public will be informed of the latest findings as details become available.