Bahrain says five policemen injured in ‘terror blast’

Five Bahraini policemen were injured in a “terror blast” west of the capital Manama on Monday, according to the state news agency.

The Ministry of Interior said the incident took place while the policemen were securing an Ashura procession by Shia Muslims on Budaiya Highway in the village of Daih.

The festival marks the death of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson at the Battle of Karbala around 1,400 years ago.

The ministry said on Twitter that the “necessary steps are being taken” in response.

5 policemen injured in terror blast while securing Ashoora procession on Budaiya Highway in Daih. Necessary steps are being taken

— Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) October 2, 2017

A Saudi Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemned the bombing and reiterated its support to Bahrain “against these acts of terrorism, which are aimed at subverting its security and stability and intimidating its people”.

Bahrain has suffered from a series of attacks on policemen and security forces this year by Shia militants the government claims are backed by Iran.

In June, one policeman was killed and two others were wounded in a blast in the Diraz home village of the Shia Muslim spiritual leader in the country Ayatollah Isa Qassim.

Read: Blast kills policeman in Bahraini village