A spate of explosions in the heart of Bahrain's capital yesterday was a blatant attack on the country's expatriate community, said a municipal councillor whose constituency bore the brunt of the blasts.

Ghazi Al Dossary, whose constituency includes Gudaibiya, added the fact that the area was known to be heavily populated by Asians suggested they were targeted in the co-ordinated campaign, according to a report in our sister publication the Gulf Daily News (GDN).

He is now calling on Shi'ite and Sunni religious clerics to join hands to stop violence that has resulted in the deaths of innocent people.

"We were all surprised to hear the news about the explosions as Gudaibiya is the safest place in Bahrain for expats and Bahrainis," Al Dossary told the GDN yesterday.

"Now we cannot sit in groups or individually, as anything can happen anytime, anywhere. I think this was a deliberate attack on expats living in these areas. This was an unexpected incident which really shocked us all."

He argued the responsibility for ending bloodshed on Bahrain's streets rested with religious leaders.

"This is not about Shia or Sunni, but about Bahrainis and innocent expats," he said. "I would like to urge all the clerics to deliver a sermon warning all their people to stop targeting and killing innocent people, especially expats."

Bahrain's police have come under mounting attacks by anti-government gangs who are armed with improvised explosives, Molotov cocktails and other lethal homemade weapons.

However, Al Dossary said yesterday's incidents indicated a clear shift in tactics that endangered the public.

"It's not only police who need to be alert now, but the general public as well," he warned.

"They must not touch suspicious packages, plastic bags or baggage and call police directly. I also would like to urge cleaning companies to issue memos to all workers asking them to be cautious now. They must teach them how to protect themselves in case of such incidents."

One of the explosions happened near the Dilmun School, Adliya, and the area's MP Abdulhakim Al Shammary said it was the result of "extremism".

"We feel sorry for the two dead men and, of course, offer our sincere condolences to the families," he said. "We understand the explosion was a result of extremism. As the government is trying to make changes in their (the opposition's) favour, they are using illegal rallies, demonstrations and violence to harm everyone. This shows their actual face and tactics they use to reach their goals."

However, he said he hoped foreign residents in Bahrain would not be scared into leaving the country.

"I don't think this would affect the expat community and force them to decide to leave Bahrain," he said. "I have full confidence that the Interior Ministry would arrest those responsible for this terrorist attack and bring them to justice.”

"A special meeting will be held and this issue will definitely be highlighted. We are also expecting a reaction on the international level,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service