LONDON: Bahrain’s High Criminal Court on Monday sentenced 12 people to 10 years’ imprisonment and imposed fines of 2,000 Bahraini dinars ($5,300) on some for supporting Iranian attacks against the country.
The Head of the Terrorism Crimes Prosecution announced on Monday that the court issued rulings in 11 cases involving the spread of sensitive data and the capture of images of restricted sites.
Authorities referred the individuals to court after investigating them for also spreading false news via social media accounts intended to incite panic among the public, according to the Bahrain News Agency.
Iran attacked Bahrain several times since the US and Israel launched airstrikes against Tehran and killed the regime’s top echelon, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in late February.
Last week, Iranian drones damaged several houses in Hamad and the capital, Manama, injuring an 11-year-old girl.
Bahrain, home to US Naval Forces Central Command and the Fifth Fleet, was one of 10 countries targeted by Iran with missile and drone attacks. In March alone, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries were targeted by 83 percent of Iran’s missiles and drones, while only 17 percent were launched at Israel, according to a report.
Bahraini authorities intercepted and destroyed at least 194 ballistic missiles and 515 drones targeting the country since Feb. 28.
