He said that the Public Prosecution received, on December 28, a report from the General Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Forensic Evidence indicating that Ali Ahmed Mafoudh Al Moussawi, a Bahraini national currently residing in Iran, is accused of planning to commit terrorist acts and planting explosives targeting vital installations and sovereign and security locations in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The accused recruited a number of persons, formed an organized group to smuggle various weapons and explosives into the Kingdom, and carry out assignments to commit terrorist acts. In executing this plan, the accused succeeded in recruiting a number of persons in Bahrain to join the group, arranged for their travel to Iran to receive training on the use of weapons and explosives, martial arts, marine navigation skills, and methods of smuggling and concealing weapons, munitions and explosives into Bahrain. The members of that group actually succeeded in smuggling and concealing a shipment of weapons and explosives into the Kingdom. Investigations also revealed that Ali Al Moussawi had called upon one of the leaders of the group to meet him in Iraq to coordinate the smuggling of another shipment of explosives and weapons.
Based on the findings of the investigations, the Public Prosecution issued an arrest and search warrant to arrest the accused and search their homes and any of their other properties, to seize any weapons and explosives found in their possession, and any items related to their criminal activities. The Public Prosecution’s warrant was executed. Surveillance of the movements of the terrorist group led to the arrest of two of its members who were caught in the act on a boat receiving weapons, munitions and explosives to be smuggled from a boat at sea into the country. Three other accused group members were also arrested.
Upon receiving information that the two group members were arrested after receiving weapons, explosives and munitions from a boat at sea, Public Prosecution immediately proceeded to examine the boat used in the act and the items which were seized. However, given the dangerous nature of the explosives that were seized, the examination was postponed until the required protection was made available. With the risks mitigated, Public Prosecution conducted its examination at a secure location. Examination of the seized items revealed a large quantity of explosives and detonators, detonation wire reels, ignition capsules, 50 hand grenades, PK automatic weapons, 1,023 rounds of ammunition, electronic circuits and boards, Thuraya telephone, mobile phones, GPS device, and batteries connected to electrical wires. Public Prosecution also took the two detainees immediately after questioning to the Coast Guard Headquarters, showed them the seized items, while the two accused re-enacted the crime, including how they received the weapons, explosives and munitions and how they stowed them on the boat. During the search of the homes of some of the accused, as well as two locations used to store weapons and explosives, explosive materials, two pistons, rounds of ammunition, and magazines, a mobile telephone connected to an electric wire, electric circuits, and charges ready for detonation after adding explosives produced in the manner they were trained upon in Iran, in addition to welding equipment and various other tools of the types used in the manufacturing of explosives.
Public Prosecution interrogated the accused held in custody, namely:
1. Alsayed Ali Shubbar Sharaf Shubbar
2. Hussein Ahmed Taher Abdulwahab
3. Aqeel Abdulrasool Mohamed Ahmed
4. Hussein Mahdi Mohamed Ibrahim
5. Ali Sabah Abdulmohsen Mohamed
They were all faced with the seized items and the evidence collected against them. The accused confessed that they have joined the group to carry out their plans and commit terrorist acts with religious motivations from their points of view, based on Shari’a rulings as they were led to believe by the leaders of the group. They also confessed that they had travelled to Iran and received training by Iranian personnel at Iranian Revolutionary Guard Camps at various locations in Iran. They also confessed having received sums of money after training. Their confessions also included detailed accounts of how they received the seized explosives, guns, munitions and equipment from a boat on the high seas manned by an Iraqi crew, and stated that they reached that boat by using coordinates which were given to them, all upon the instructions of the leader Ali Al Moussawi and other group leaders in Bahrain and abroad. Those instructions also included concealing the smuggled weapons, explosives and tools until the zero hour, to be used at that time in carrying out their plans, targeting vital, sovereign and security installations and assassinating certain figures.
According to the confessions of the accused which were made during investigations at Public Prosecution, it was found that they received theoretical and practical training on:
The use of weapons, and particular RPGs, Kalashnikovs, M16s and MP15s.
Manufacture and use of explosives
Night sniping and marksmanship techniques
Celestial navigation and use of coordinates
Methods of smuggling through sea points
Piloting boats
Long distance swimming
Surveillance and monitoring
Personal security and avoiding being followed
On the other hand, Public Prosecution investigations revealed that group members received training on dividing their operations onto three subgroups: the first subgroup collects information and determines targeted locations, the second subgroup transports weapons, explosives and bombs, while the third subgroup carries out the operations.
Public Prosecution investigations also revealed that one of the accused carried out assignments involving surveillance and photographing certain sites in the Kingdom and reported on them to leaders in Iran.
The Public Prosecution ordered the accused to be held in custody pending investigation and accused them of collaboration with agents of a foreign country with the intent of committing hostile acts against the Kingdom of Bahrain, joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its objectives and purposes, import and possession of explosives, firearms and munitions without permit for use in activities which undermine public order and for terrorist purposes, training on the use of weapons, munitions and explosives and smuggling them with the intent of committing terrorist acts, and the supply of a group with monies with full knowledge of its intents and purposes and its engagement in terrorist activities, which are crimes punishable under Article 122 of the Penal Code, Articles 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8 of Law No. 58 of 2006 on the Protection of Society from Terrorism, and Articles 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11 and 18 of Legislative Decree No. 19 of 1976 on Explosives, Firearms and Munitions, as amended.
The Public Prosecution ordered the prompt arrest and extradition of the escaped suspects, and assigned weapons and explosives experts to examine the seized items. It also ordered investigations into certain events and persons mentioned in the confessions of the accused.
The Public Prosecution affirms that its investigations were continuing from the time it received the first report, in order to follow on evidence and uncover all aspects of the truth as quickly as possible. Findings will be announced when available, unless such announcement adversely affects the course and integrity of the investigation, in order protect evidence and best serve public interest.
Responding to journalists’ questions, Chief Prosecutor Osama Al-Oufi stressed ongoing police investigation to identify the other accused, who are still at large in Iraq and Iran. He pointed out that the two accused who used the boat to deliver the explosions and weapons spoke Iraqi accent.
Chief Prosecutor Osama Al-Oufi confirmed the nature of the busted terror group, declining to reveal further details or elaborate more to ensure the confidentiality of ongoing investigations.
He said that the first and second suspects are accused of hiding other suspects and violating a banned zone.
The third suspect, who is accused of hiding other suspects, is wanted for trial at the Lower Court for running away after he had been arrested. The third suspect was also sentenced to five years for premeditated arson, rallying, rioting, and possession of inflammable substances with the aim of perpetrating a terror act.
The fourth suspect is involved in a case, which is still pending at the Public Prosecution, for training on using weapons, fabricating and possessing explosives to perpetrate a terror act.
The fifth suspect is also involved in a case, which is pending at the Public Prosecution, assaulting policemen, jeopardizing others’ safety, rallying, rioting and holding inflammable substances. He was also sentenced to six months in jail for holding inflammable substances, rallying and rioting. He was also convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail for premeditated arson, using a vehicle without prior permission from its owner, endangering others’ physical safety, possessing inflammable substances. He was also indicted in a third case and sentenced to fifteen years in jail for attempting to murder policemen and possession of inflammable substances.
The sixth suspect is facing charges of rallying and rioting. He is already sentenced to three years in jail for assaulting a public employee, rallying, rioting and possessing inflammable materials. He is also implicated in another case for rallying, rioting, insulting a public employee and vandalism.
The seventh suspect is involved in a case lodged with the Public Prosecution and accused of rioting and possessing inflammable materials. He is also sentenced to seven years in prison for resisting authorities, arson, possessing inflammable substances, rallying and rioting.
As for the eighth suspect, he is also involved in a case lodged with the Public Prosecution for belonging to a gang formed to carry out a terror plot, rallying, rioting, planting a hoax bomb and possessing inflammable substances. He is also standing trial for resisting authorities, rallying, rioting and possessing inflammable materials.
The ninth suspect is sentenced to six months in jail for possessing inflammable materials, rallying and rioting. He was also handed a ten-year jail term for arson, using a vehicle without the permission of its owner, assault and possessing inflammable substances. He has also a case lodged with the Public Prosecution in which he is accused of sabotage, rallying, rioting and possessing inflammable substances.
Concerning the tenth suspect, who is Saudi, he is involved in a case which is being processed by the Public Prosecution in Bahrain on charges of possessing a weapon and ammunition without licence so as to carry out a terror act. He is also involved in another case being processed by the Supreme Criminal Court and is facing charges of attempted murder, possessing weapons and ammunition, rallying and rioting.
The eleventh suspect has pending case before the Public Prosecution, sentenced to six months for the possession of inflammable substances, rallying and rioting, and has another pending case before the Supreme Court on charges of attempted murder, arson, destruction and possession of inflammable substances, he also has a third case before the Forth Supreme Court on charges of arson and destruction.
While the twelfth suspect, has a pending case before the Public Prosecution on charges related to attacking a policeman for terrorist purposes, assaulting citizens, rallying, rioting and the possession of inflammable material. He is also sentenced to 15 years on charges of killing a number of policemen, rioting and the possession of inflammable material, he is sentenced to six months on charges of the possession of inflammable material, rioting and rallying, and was sentenced to one year in absentia on charges of attempted murder, rallying, vandalism and possession of inflammable substances.
The thirteenth suspect has a pending case on charges of joining a terrorist group, rioting, rallying and planting a hoax bomb. He is also sentenced to one month and BD100 fine for rallying, and another pending case before the Supreme Court on charges of resisting security authority, rioting, rallying and the possession of inflammable substances and he is sentenced to two years in absentia on charges of rallying and rioting.