Bahrain beefs up security, offers to train volunteers in first-aid, civil defence

The ministry also confirmed that the man responsible for the terrorist blast in Kuwait on Friday had arrived at Bahrain International Airport from Riyadh on June 25.

Manama — Bahrain has announced tight security to protect places of worship and the registration of volunteers to be trained in first-aid and civil defence.
This was highlight by the Interior Ministry on Sunday to protect the country from terrorist attack similar to the suicide blasts that targeted two mosques in Saudi Arabia and one mosque in Kuwait.
The ministry also confirmed that the man responsible for the terrorist blast in Kuwait on Friday had arrived at Bahrain International Airport from Riyadh on June 25 on Gulf Air flight 170 at 10.40pm and remained in transit for 2-1/2 hours before he left for Kuwait on Gulf Air flight 211 at 1.10am on June 26.

Government reviews security at mosques > Interior minister and top officials review security procedures for all public places, including places of worship > Minister and chairmen of Sunni and Jaffary endowments discuss installation of CCTVs and use of other technologies to secure the places of worship and their surroundings > Mosques to be closed after each prayer so caretakers could constantly monitor the interiors and sections of all mosques

Interior Minister Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa while meeting top security officials discussed recent security issues and regional events. Security procedures for all public places, including places of worship were reviewed. He directed field visits at places of worship to assess security requirements in cooperation with the sites’ caretakers.
He also directed that the governorates and caretakers of places of worship should nominate a number of citizens to be registered at the security directorates as volunteers to cooperate with the police, highlighting that those volunteers will be trained in first aid and civil defence.  
In another meeting between the minister and chairmen of Sunni and Jaffary endowments on Sunday, they discussed the installation of CCTVs and use of other technologies to secure the places of worship and their surroundings. It was decided to close mosques after each prayer so caretakers could constantly monitor the interiors and sections of all mosques.
He said that extremist religious speeches could endanger lives so legal action would be taken against anyone whose speech endangered national unity. He also outlined the importance of religious sermons and speeches to bring people together and promote national unity.
shamada@khaleejtimes.com

• Bahrain