Bahrain has convicted 28 men of hurling firebombs at a civilian car, while five others have been jailed for five years each for plotting an attack on Bahrain's Formula One race last year.

The 28 Bahrainis were yesterday found guilty of attempted murder, taking part in an illegal gathering, arson, possessing Molotov cocktails and damaging vehicles, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

They were among a mob of 40 men who set tyres ablaze in Hamad Town to lure policemen.

Officers were dispatched to roundabouts 19 and 20 to clear debris from the highway, but upon their arrival masked men hurled Molotov cocktails at them setting their cars ablaze.

Prosecutors say a Syrian man was caught in the crossfire between police and rioters.

The man, who witnessed the attack on police, escaped on foot, abandoning his car which went up in flames after thugs threw petrol bombs inside it.

The High Criminal Court yesterday sentenced 22 men to 15 years in prison each, while six were jailed for three years for their part in the crime. Judges also fined them a total amount of BD700 ($1,850).

Four others have been cleared of all charges due to lack of evidence.

"Twenty-eight defendants were convicted based on their confessions and testimonies of prosecution witnesses," read court verdict documents. "They said they planned the attack to 'cause severe injuries amongst policemen'. They attacked officers and placed debris on the highway, before setting a civilian's vehicle ablaze."

Nine of the 28 defendants, who are still at large, were sentenced in absentia, including six who were sentenced to 15 years.

Formula One plot five sentenced

A plot to attack Bahrain's Formula One race last year was foiled by police when a 31-year-old woman, who stuffed a pillow beneath her clothes, was arrested at a police checkpoint near Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) on April 20 last year.

She confessed they were testing the security for the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, before planting bombs at its car park on the final race day.

Her 37-year-old friend, a housewife, was given six homemade explosives and a race ticket by one of her co-defendants to carry out the attack.

Investigations led to the arrest of the mastermind, who had ordered his co-defendants to help the women go through with the plot.

All five were yesterday convicted of planning a terrorist attack by the High Criminal Court. Two men, who are still at large, were sentenced in absentia.

"The defendants were convicted based on their confessions, which were not taken under duress," read verdict documents.

"They all planned to carry out the terrorist attack to ruin the race. The mastermind of the plan communicated with one of the co-defendants over the BlackBerry service and ordered him to provide the 37-year-old with the explosives.

"She then agreed with the other woman, who attached a pillow around her waist, to test the security before carrying out the terrorist attack."

The 37-year-old was also convicted of possessing an explosive device and inciting her female accomplice to take part in the planned attack.

She was also jailed for five years last September, in a separate case, for being part of the Coalition of February 14 terrorist group. – TradeArabia News Service