Bahrain: Five policemen injured in explosion Oct. 2

Event

On Monday, October 2, five policemen were injured in a "terrorist explosion" outside of the capital Manama. The blast occurred in the village of Daih, on Budaiya Highway, when the officers were guarding a procession of Shi'a Muslims celebrating Ashura.

Context

Ashura is commemorated by Shi'a Muslims as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and often features large public gatherings and processions.

This incident is the latest in a series of attacks targeting security forces. On June 18, one policeman was killed and four others wounded in a blast in Diraz. The Bahraini government has blamed Shi'a militants for the attacks and has claimed Iran backs these groups to destabilize the country, a claim which Tehran denies. Bahrain's Shi'a Muslims in turn accuse the royal family and the government of marginalizing their community. Weekly protests by Shi'as take place in locations across Bahrain, and have the potential to result in violent clashes.

Advice

Due to the terrorist threat, individuals in Bahrain are advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects or activity to local authorities. As attacks on security forces occur periodically, foreigners are advised to stay away from sites that are deemed particularly likely to be targeted (e.g. ministries, public buildings, police patrols, military zones, etc.).