Woman killed in roadside bomb attack in Bahrain

A woman has been reportedly killed and three children sustained injuries when a roadside bomb exploded south of Bahrain’s capital, Manama, the country’s Ministry of Interior said, labelling it a “terrorist” attack.

The woman was reportedly driving on the opposite side of the highway near al-Eker village on Thursday night when the bomb detonated, causing shrapnel to hit her car.

It was not immediately clear who the bomb targeted, and no one claimed responsibility for the attack.

The police vowed that the “hands of justice would reach those responsible”.

Sporadic violence and bomb attacks largely aimed at Bahraini security forces have become the norm since mass, Shia-led pro-democracy protests were put down by the government in 2011.

In July last year, two policemen in the Shia village of Sitra were killed in a bomb blast that authorities said involved the use of explosives smuggled from Iran.

Tehran denies interference in Bahrain but openly supports opposition groups seeking greater rights for the Shia majority.

Tensions have increased in the small Gulf island country in recent weeks following the closure of the main opposition party, Al-Wefaq, detention of a leading rights activist, Nabeel Rajab, and the revoking of citizenship of Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, the country’s top Shia religious figure.

Bahrain, which hosts the United States’ Fifth Fleet, is seen by Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdoms as a strategic bulwark against Iranian influence.