Bomb explodes in Shia village in Bahrain

Three policemen slightly wounded; interior ministry terms explosion a "terrorist" blast


Afp December 20, 2014

DUBAI: A bomb blast in a Shia village in Bahrain, the scene of simmering unrest since anti-government protests were crushed in 2011, has left three policemen slightly wounded, officials said.

The three were on patrol in the village of Bani Jamra when the blast occurred, the Gulf kingdom's interior ministry said in a statement on Twitter posted late Friday.

It said that the three sustained minor injuries, describing the explosion as a "terrorist" blast and adding that "necessary steps are being taken", without elaborating.

Witnesses said that the blast occurred late Friday and that security forces swiftly sealed off the village, which lies not far from the capital Manama.

They added that a young protester was also injured in clashes with police in another Shia village, Sanabes, late on Friday.

Attacks against security forces have intensified this year.

Two people, including a Jordanian policeman, were killed in the area last week.

It was the first deadly attack on security forces since parliamentary polls in November boycotted by the main opposition group, which is calling for democratic reforms in the kingdom.

The election was the first in the Gulf state since authorities quelled the 2011 protests.

Bahrain remains deeply divided three years after the month-long demonstrations.

Protests still frequently break out in Bahrain's villages, sometimes sparking clashes with police.

Attacks on the security forces have increased this year, with three policemen -- including an Emirati -- killed in a bombing on March 3.

Another policeman was killed in a bomb blast in February during protests marking the third anniversary of the failed uprising.

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