DUBAI: Three Bahraini militants wanted on terrorism charges have died at sea and another is missing after they fled the country by boat headed for Iran.
The incident shines a light on links between a small, armed fringe of Bahrain’s opposition and Iran, which authorities accuse of stoking years of attacks against its police.
“It’s the latest in a pattern of fugitives wanted for serious acts of terrorism fleeing to Iran in coordination with authorities in Tehran and other exiles there,” a Bahraini official said
A militant commander was killed in a Bahraini commando raid last year along with several other extremists headed to Iran on a speedboat after they staged a prison break.
Three wanted militants who also took part in the escape did arrive in Iran. They appeared at a lecture in the Iranian holy city of Qom praising their dead fellows, according to a video filmed and distributed by activists.
At a wake held in Qom for the three militants lost at sea on Tuesday, an exiled Bahraini leader mourned their death in a videotaped statement.
“We heard about their departure but they were missing for a long time at sea and the boat was found after three days ... from the first moments the Iranian authorities were looking for them,” Sheikh Abdullah Al-Duqaq said.
Fugitive Bahrain militants die at sea while fleeing to Iran
Fugitive Bahrain militants die at sea while fleeing to Iran
