Friday, 31 May 2013 08:51
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A homemade bomb planted by “terrorists” has exploded in a Shia village outside the Bahraini capital, wounding seven policemen on patrol, police said.
Among them, one was seriously hurt and two others moderately by the blast in Bani Jamra village on Wednesday night, said Northern Province police chief Ibrahim al-Sheeb on Thursday.
Sheeb, quoted by BNA state news agency, said an investigation had been launched into the attack, which he blamed on “terrorists.”
Bomb attacks are rare in Bahrain, despite frequent clashes between security forces in the Sunni Muslim-ruled kingdom and protesters from its Shia majority.
The interior ministry said on Twitter that 10 people had been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the explosion.
Witnesses said security forces installed checkpoints at all entries to the village, east of Manama, and stormed some houses in search of suspects.
US Ambassador Thomas Krajeski condemned the attack, stressing that dialogue is the only path to reconciliation.
“We strongly condemn this attack on police and extend our deepest sympathies to all those injured. All violence is completely unacceptable and unhelpful in efforts to rebuild trust and pursue meaningful reconciliation in Bahrain,” he said in a statement posted on the embassy’s website.
“It is incumbent upon all segments of Bahraini society to support and participate in the National Dialogue, condemn acts of violence and incitement, and to contribute to a climate conducive for reconciliation.”
At least 80 people have been killed in Bahrain since February 2011, according to the International Federation for Human Rights, when Shia-dominated protests rocked the streets of Manama.
Despite a heavy-handed crackdown in March 2011, backed by Saudi-led Gulf troops, demonstrators were soon back on the street.
A national dialogue was relaunched in February with the aim of resolving the political deadlock in the country.