Bahrain's police force will be on high alert today (July 3), patrolling major mosques across the kingdom in the wake of a terror threat.

Each area will have a designated police major in charge of co-ordinating with heads of mosques as worshippers flock to Friday prayers, along with setting up concrete blocks in high-risk areas and prohibiting parking close to the mosque, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

It follows last Friday’s suicide bombing at a Shi’ite mosque in Kuwait, which killed 27 people and injured 227 others.

Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for that attack, as well as suicide bombings at Shi’ite mosques in Saudi Arabia on May 22 and May 29 in which 24 people died.

Reports have emerged that Bahraini cleric Shaikh Turki Albinali, a senior figure in IS, has used social media to warn that Bahrain would be targeted this weekend.

“As a number, I can’t reveal the figures of police out (today), but there will definitely be enough policemen on the street,” said Capital Governorate Police general director Brigadier Khalid Mohammed Al Thawadi.

“There will be an officer for every area and they will be in touch with the imams or those in charge of mosques.

“We have agreed to use specific doors, to place concrete blocks in some areas and to stop cars from parking close to the walls of the mosque as a precautionary measure.”

The GDN reported on the formation of a network of community volunteers to monitor neighbourhoods, who would work in partnership with police.

Brig Al Thawadi yesterday said groups of volunteers have already started training at the Civil Defence.

“We took volunteers and they attended a training session for first aid, on how to keep people away and how to act if, God forbid, anything happens,” he said on the sidelines of a meeting held at the Capital Governorate headquarters.

“The people weren’t chosen, people were invited and people came forward.

“Some are sportsmen, some are retired, some are students and some are government employees.

“Police vehicles will be sweeping mosques and prayer halls to discover anything, along with police dogs.”

Capital Governor Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa said, during the meeting, volunteers were needed because they knew people of the area and could help police identify strangers.

“The Prophet said first be wise and then trust in God,” he said in response to a comment by a volunteer that the measures were extreme and spreading fear.

“We saw what happened in Kuwait, with the bomber going through Bahrain in transit.

“We will put whatever measures are necessary to prevent this from happening.

“We do not want to create fear, we just have to be on alert this week and hopefully it will go back to normal.

“We need people like you to co-ordinate directly with the police and stay with the police until the prayers are over in order to help identify people if necessary. We have a complete security plan, but it differs for each area as each mosque has different needs.

“We also request mosques to keep street vendors, who are usually found near mosques on Fridays, at a set distance away as we can’t know what’s being put underneath cartons and it could prove to be a safety 
hazard.”

He was responding to questions by volunteer Sayed Mohammed Majid, who said he has been praying at the Jidhafs Grand Mosque for more than 20 years.

“I have been praying at the mosque from the 90s and have stood at the doors of the mosque and I know the people of the area,” he said.

“The mosque can take up to 1,200 people on both floors and I would know 90 per cent of the people who come here.

“If someone new comes, I’ll know who they are.

“You are making this issue bigger than it needs to be, you are planting fear in the community.

“You need police at the entrance of Jidhafs, but it’s unnecessary at the doors of the mosque.”

Meanwhile, Southern Governor Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa announced yesterday that volunteers will be assigned at mosques that offer Juma prayers and attract a large number of visitors in the governorate from today.

He said security measures have been taken following meetings with Interior Ministry officials.

He was speaking as he chaired a meeting with Southern Governorate Police general director Brigadier Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, heads of police stations and officials.

He was briefed on steps to protect worshippers and mosques.

The governor called on preachers and scholars to urge people to co-operate with security authorities to back safety measures, highlighting the importance of religious speeches that promote national unity.

Security was already stepped up at mosques in Bahrain before the Kuwait bombing, with worshippers being screened as they entered.

The GDN reported earlier this week that there were plans to install surveillance cameras and detectors at mosques, while volunteers were being sought to help secure places of worship and be trained on first aid and rescue services.

Mosques will be closed after each prayer session so that caretakers can sweep for suspicious objects.

Field visits are also being conducted at places of worship to assess security requirements.

Legal action has also been announced by the Interior Ministry against anyone promoting an extremist agenda. - TradeArabia News Service