A bus driver was paid $600 to transport a suitcase containing bomb-making equipment, including 140 detonators, into the country on a passenger bus via the King Fahad Causeway, a court heard.

The 31-year-old is among five Bahrainis standing trial at the High Criminal Court, where four of them in custody pleaded yesterday not guilty to possessing explosive materials, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

His fugitive uncle allegedly masterminded the plan, but is at large in Iraq and standing trial in absentia for aiding and abetting the crime.

Three are also accused of smuggling explosive equipment to use in terrorist acts and subvert security on 
December 28 and March 15.

A teenager under the age of 15, who was allegedly being used as a mule to smuggle contraband equipment to Bahrain via Saudi Arabia, is standing trial separately in a juvenile court.

“In September I went to Karbala (in Iraq) and met my uncle, who is on the run from authorities in Bahrain because he is wanted in security-related cases,” the driver told prosecutors.

“He asked me to smuggle books belonging to Al Wefaq National Islamic Society and explosive materials used in bombings stashed in children’s toys.

“I initially refused and said I was not ready, but when I travelled back to Iraq along with my cousin he told me he took two (TV) receivers filled with explosive equipment.

“He told me we were going to transport them to Bahrain under his seat in my bus and I agreed.

“We managed to enter Bahrain undetected after passing the borders of Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.”

He said he travelled to Iraq a second time on March 15 to attend his uncle’s wedding and was paid $600 to transport a second shipment of bomb-making equipment into the country.

“I agreed and used other passengers to help me smuggle the explosive materials,” he said.

“In Bahrain officials searched our bus and found the illegal items inside a big brown suitcase.

“There were 55 passengers, including women and children, on board the bus.”

One of the alleged smugglers, another nephew of the Bahraini in Iraq, said he wanted to support an “armed resistance” in Bahrain to prompt the return of Imam Al Mahdi, who some people consider to be mankind’s 
saviour.

“I met with my uncle in Karbala and he spoke to me of the appearance of the Mahdi,” the 19-year-old student told prosecutors.

“He said I have to help speed up the ritual process in preparation for the Mahdi.

“He gave me two cartons of receivers fitted with explosive materials and told me to transport them to Bahrain.

“I also received militia training on weapons and explosives.

“We were later arrested in Bahrain with the illegal items.”

The trial was adjourned until September 20 for review. - TradeArabia News Service