The Police Media Center has issued a statement on the investigation of an ambush attacking police with firebombs in Nuwaidrat on Friday morning. The attack was captured on video by the group promoting an escalation in violent attacks on police and government representatives in a move to propel Bahrain into an atmosphere of public disorder constituting a greater threat to public safety and security.
The General Director of Crime Detection and Forensic Science announced the arrest and questioning of a number of suspects on Saturday that provided information about the identities of others involved. The suspects are being referred to the Public Prosecution.
The graphic video was uploaded to the YouTube account of a group referring to itself as Nuwaidrat Feb 14 and was linked to the group’s Facebook page. It shows police on foot and in their vehicles being ambushed in a coordinated attack by multiple assailants wearing white garments symbolic of the funeral shrouds of martyrs.
The video is prefaced with a statement in Arabic entitled “The Final Warning” which refers to the “jihadist youths” issuing “a warning to the mercenaries of the Ministry of Interior from entering the village from this day forth.”
In another statement a spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior said that although no policeman were injured in the assault, there was significant property damage to at least one police vehicle. He expressed concern that Friday’s attack was indicative of recent threats by opposition parties and individuals who have threatened the Government of Bahrain with escalating violence if their demands are not met.
A group of saboteurs accused of hurling Molotov cocktails on security patrols and attacking police forces on Friday at Nuwaidrat will appear before the Public Prosecution to face charges.
“The suspects have provided information about other saboteurs who took part in the attack on policemen”, Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) director-general said. Police operation is underway to track them down.