Bahrain has foiled a major terror plot targeting its vital installations. Four members of a terror cell, with alleged links to Iran, were arrested in Qatar and a fifth in Bahrain, Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier Tariq Al Hassan said yesterday.

Their list of targets included the Interior Ministry building, the King Fahad Causeway and the Saudi embassy in Bahrain, he said.

'Four Bahrainis who had entered Qatar through Saudi Arabia were caught with documents and a laptop containing sensitive security information and details about some places and vital establishments in Bahrain, as well as airline bookings to Syria,' Brig Al Hassan said at a press conference at the Interior Ministry Officers Club, Gudaibiya.

'Significant amounts of US and Iranian currency were also found on them.'

Al Hassan said initial questioning of the suspects by the Qatari security authorities revealed the men had left Bahrain illegally after being incited by others to travel to Iran, passing through Qatar and Syria.

He said they intended to establish a group to carry out armed terrorist operations in Bahrain against vital establishments and people.

Al Hassan said the four suspects were handed over to Bahraini authorities on November 4 and have been charged with plotting terror activities.

'Legal procedures have now been taken against the suspects and physical evidence has been confiscated,' he said.

Brig Al Hassan said the suspects provided details about a fifth man in Bahrain, who was later arrested.

All five have been referred to the Public Prosecution.

MP Abdulhaleem Murad called on authorities to adopt firm measures to punish those who tamper with Bahrain's security, the safety of its people and its relationship with neighbours.

He said the terror cell is a blatant Iranian attempt to destabilise the kingdom and its relationship with Saudi Arabia. – TradeArabia News Service