Bomb Blast In Bahrain's Shiite Village Injures 3, Officials Call It A 'Terrorist' Blast

A bomb exploded in a Shia Muslim majority village in Bahrain, injuring three policemen, reports said, citing the country’s interior ministry. The officials reportedly called the explosion a “terrorist" blast and said that the matter is being investigated.

The attack comes a month after opposition boycotted the scheduled elections amid rising anti-government sentiments. The explosion occurred in the village of Bani Jamra, northwest to the capital Manama, Reuters reported, citing an official statement from the interior ministry. The ministry also reportedly said that it is taking "necessary steps,” but did not elaborate further.

Police officials have sealed off the village, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported, adding that this is the first deadly attack on the country’s security forces after the parliamentary elections in November were boycotted by opposition. The Shia opposition group has been calling for democratic reforms in the Sunni-ruled country, the report said.

Bahrain’s government accuses Iran of instigating unrest in the region but the Islamic Republic, the group of countries ruled by Islamic laws which includes Iran, denies these claims, according to Reuters.

Bahrain has witnessed several protests in its Shiite villages, AFP reported. In March, three policemen, including an Emirati, were killed in an explosion that took place in a Shiite area. In February, another bomb blast took place in a Shiite village while people were protesting to mark the third anniversary of the failed uprising.