Public Prosecutor Ahmed al-Hammadi said in a statement on BNA that two defendants were present at the sentencing at Bahrain’s Criminal Court, while the rest were tried in absentia.

Bahrain’s security authorities have in a major counterterrorism operation arrested a total of 47 people who are believe to have links to terror outfits in Iran, official sources said on Wednesday.

Ammunition and anti-personnel bomb moulds were also seized along with partially constructed armour-piercing explosive devices, which the ministry said were likely to be used as Vehicle-Improvised Explosive Devices (VIEDs).

An interior ministry statement carried by Bahrain’s state news agency BNA said a large number of explosives and weapons had been found in secret caches in residential areas of several villages.

It said the group had “terrorist attacks plotted for the coming days, aimed at shaking security across the country”.

Ambassador Abdullah pointed out that the arrest of this unsafe group with its plans and training schemes is a living proof that Iran is still fostering terrorism out of the belief that it is immune from terrorism’s danger and evil.

In October, Bahrain announced the seizure of 1.5 tons of explosives and later expelled the acting Iranian charge d’affaires, saying Iran supported militants.

Shi’ite Iran denies involvement in any violence in Bahrain.