Bahrain’s police were out in full force yesterday (July 7) following an explosion which killed a policeman and outbreaks of violence in two districts in the kingdom.

Yasir Dhaib, 19, died and two other officers suffered multiple injuries in the blast when security forces tried to prevent thugs from attacking a police station in Sitra.

The homemade device exploded at 10.16pm on Saturday in an area known as Wadyan and police are still hunting those responsible.

Several checkpoints were set up at key entrances to Sitra and officers were checking the identities of drivers before allowing them inside.

Pictures circulating online also showed police checking some houses as investigators continued to search for evidence and patrol jeeps were stationed near car showrooms and other prominent businesses.

Three policemen were also injured when thugs hurled Molotov cocktails at their patrol jeep in Janabiya at 5am. They suffered minor burns and were said to be in a stable condition.

"It happened when thugs blocked the road with burning tyres and a patrol jeep was caught in the middle of it," said sources.

"Several Molotov cocktails were hurled on the patrol jeep, which was completely gutted."

In another act of sabotage, a minibus parked by the roadside was gutted when thugs hurled firebombs at policemen in A'ali. Sources said it happened at around 3am during clashes between officers and thugs.

"Policemen were confronting masked youths who attacked them with Molotov cocktails," they said. "Several petrol bombs fell on and near the minibus, causing the vehicle to explode, but no injuries were reported." – TradeArabia News Service