Bahrain Jails 11 for Links to Iranian Revolutionary Guards

A Bahraini court sentenced nine defendants to life imprisonment and two others to three years in prison for collaborating with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in carrying out what it described as "hostile and terrorist" acts against Bahrain, the state news agency reported.

The defendants were found to have gathered information on sensitive facilities and arranged related financial transfers.

Bahrain's Interior Ministry said on 9 May that it had detained 41 people identified as having links to the IRGC and that security authorities had uncovered a network connected to the organisation. The prosecution's investigation also covered cases related to sympathy for Iranian attacks.

Iran has launched attacks on targets in Bahrain and other Gulf Arab states that host US military bases since the United States and Israel began military operations against Iran on 28 February.

(reuters, luc)