MANAMA: The Director of Legal Affairs at Bahrain’s Interior Ministry has denied media reports that the government was planning to repeal a law that criminalises the planting of hoax bombs.

“In fact, it is the opposite, since the government has asked for a toughening of the law in line with the other criminal acts under the antiterrorism law,” the director of legal affairs said.

“Planting a hoax bomb is currently a crime under both the penal code and the antiterrorism law, but the antiterrorism law carries a stiffer penalty.