MANAMA: Since 2011, over 2,500 police officers have been injured, according to Ministry of Interior statement.
“Over 80 have received life-changing injuries such as the loss of limb, sight or bodily function. Ten police officers have been killed. Such injuries are not the results of peaceful protests or peaceful protesters,” the statement added.
The Ministry reiterated that the right to peaceful protest and assembly is guaranteed in the Bahrain constitution. Over the past week, there have been numerous peaceful rallies and protests that occurred without police interference.
Unfortunately, over the past two days, the Ministry stressed that there have also been a series of unprovoked attacks on police by groups who use urban guerilla warfare tactics. This includes the use of deadly homemade weapons and the detonation of two bombs. As a result, one police officer was killed, two officers were seriously injured and 5 more received injuries that required medical attention. There were attacks against public and private property and terrorizing of students by closing down a number of schools and targeting a school bus with Molotov cocktails.
The Ministry is in full agreement with the UN Secretary General’s statement that “all Bahrainis should work towards creating a atmosphere for a genuine dialogue in the interest of peace, stability, reform and prosperity for all Bahrainis, laying the foundation for a new round of dialogue.” Over the past few years the goal of the Ministry of Interior has been to maintain calm and a sense of order so that such a dialogue can succeed. Police have responded to unprovoked attacks by groups using lethal weapons with incredible restraint. When they use force it is done in a proportionate and necessary manner.