Bahrain's Interior Ministry earlier wrote on Twitter that the operation
targeting Diraz was to "maintain security and public order." It called
the area a "haven for wanted fugitives from justice."
It's unclear who the raid was targeting in Diraz, home to Sheikh Isa
Qassim. Authorities offered no other details. Later, Bahrain's Interior
Ministry later tweeted it had "arrested a number" of people wanted by
authorities, without elaborating.
Activists shared mobile phone stills and videos showing youths throwing
stones and climbing on an armored personnel carrier. Gunfire could be
heard as white smoke from tear gas hung in the air.
At least one protester was killed, said Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, the
director of advocacy at the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy.
Activists shared images of other protesters suffering what appeared to
be birdshot wounds.
The operation follows a Sunday court decision giving Qassim a year's
suspended prison sentence and seizing assets belonging to him and his
ministry. Two of his aides received similar sentences.
Police have besieged Qassim's hometown of Diraz for months, tightly
controlling access. He could be deported at any time after authorities
stripped him of his citizenship last June over accusations that he
fueled extremism. His supporters deny the allegations and called his
trial politically motivated.
Shiites and others took part in 2011 Arab Spring
protests for greater rights from the Sunni monarchy of Bahrain, home to
the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet and an under-construction British naval base.
Bahrain put down the protests with the help of forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Since then, Bahrain has seen low-level unrest. But the yearlong
crackdown on dissent has raised the stakes, with local Shiite militant
groups claiming some attacks. Bahrain long has accused Iran of aiding
militants, something the Shiite power denies.
Meanwhile, activists have been imprisoned or forced into exile.
Independent news gathering on the island also has grown more difficult,
with the government refusing to accredit two Associated Press
journalists and others .
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa met with U.S. President Donald
Trump during a Sunday summit in Saudi Arabia. Already, Trump's
administration had approved a multibillion-dollar sale of F-16 fighter
jets to Bahrain without the human rights conditions imposed by the State
Department under President Barack Obama.
"Our countries have a wonderful relationship together but there has been
a little strain but there won't be strain with this administration,"
Trump said Sunday.
Activists and rights group warn Trump's embrace of Bahrain only will fuel the crackdown.
"The timing of this operation — two days after King Hamad's convivial
meeting with President Trump — can hardly be a coincidence," said
Nicholas McGeehan, a senior Bahrain researcher at Human Rights Watch.
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