A second petrol station has been targeted by arsonists in the space of three weeks, while a bank also had its main entrance torched yesterday (November 13).

Masked youths set petrol pumps alight at a fuel station owned by Jawad Business Group, in Zallaq, at around 2am - just an hour after the main entrance of Al Salam Bank, in Seef, was set ablaze, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

It was not clear yesterday whether the incidents were connected, although the Interior Ministry announced that it had arrested two suspects in connection with the Zallaq attack and launched a manhunt for the suspects in connection with the bank blaze.

The attack on the petrol station happened exactly three weeks after masked youths tried to douse the forecourt of the Budaiya Service Station, situated on the Budaiya Highway opposite the International Hospital of Bahrain, and set it alight.

On that occasion a disaster was averted by staff who cut fuel supplies to the pumps, while in yesterday's attack in Zallaq employees managed to douse the flames with fire extinguishers before the pumps exploded.

"Five masked individuals came from the rear of the station and set two of the pumps on fire," said a spokesman for Jawad Business Group.

"Our security guard immediately called police who arrived on time and took quick action.

"In the meantime our employees put out the fire using fire extinguishers."
He added that the petrol station had been cordoned off while investigations are underway.

"The fuel station is now cordoned off and police have launched an investigation," he said.
"We were informed that police had already arrested a number of suspects in connection with the incident, but we have to wait for authorities to finish their investigation and allow us to reopen."

Jawad Business Group was repeatedly targeted in the wake of unrest in 2011, based on claims that it was supplying anti-government protesters with food at the GCC (Pearl) Roundabout.

Claims

However, the group denied the allegation.

Meanwhile, sources said an ATM located at Al Salam Bank's branch in Seef had been completely destroyed in yesterday's arson attack.

"We received a call at around 1am about the fire and our team was dispatched," said Civil Defence sources.

"An investigation was launched after evidence was collected.

"CCTV footage has been forwarded to authorities concerned to follow up the case."

In a statement, police said initial investigations showed the perpetrators doused the bank entrance in a gallon of petrol and set it ablaze with Molotov cocktails.

Bank officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Yesterday's attacks come after 10 election candidates had their property and campaign tents targeted by arsonists who are thought to be sympathisers of opposition groups that are boycotting the polls on November 22. - TradeArabia News Service