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Four American journalists arrested in Bahrain during protests Bahrain charges and releases American journalists held during protests
(about 13 hours later)
Bahraini authorities have arrested four Americans during protests marking the fifth anniversary of a Shia-led uprising in the kingdom. Four American journalists who were arrested on Sunday during protests marking the fifth anniversary of a Shia-led uprising in Bahrain have been charged and released, a prosecutor has said.
The four are reporters and include an independent journalist named Anna Therese Day. The other three are members of her camera crew, according to a statement issued by Day’s family. Freelance reporter Anna Day and her camera crew were charged with illegally assembling with intent to commit a crime. A friend of Day had said the journalists were simply doing their job and denied that they took part in any “illegal behaviour”.
Related: Bahrain's young people mark fifth anniversary of Arab springRelated: Bahrain's young people mark fifth anniversary of Arab spring
The US State Department said it was aware of reports that Americans had been arrested in Bahrain but declined further comment, citing privacy concerns. It wasn’t immediately clear if they could leave the island nation off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
A police statement published by the official Bahrain News Agency did not initially specify the identities or nationalities of those arrested, or who they work for. But a later update said the four were American and included a woman. The US State Department earlier said it was aware of reports that Americans had been arrested in Bahrain but declined further comment, citing privacy concerns.
They were arrested in the Shia town of Sitra on Sunday during clashes between security forces and protesters, the statement said. They were arrested in the Shia town of Sitra on Sunday during clashes between security forces and protesters, a Bahraini police statement said.
“One of them was masked and taking part with a group of saboteurs in Sitra in acts of rioting and sabotage and attacks on security officials.“One of them was masked and taking part with a group of saboteurs in Sitra in acts of rioting and sabotage and attacks on security officials.
“The other three were arrested at a security checkpoint in the same area,” the statement said.“The other three were arrested at a security checkpoint in the same area,” the statement said.
The four entered Bahrain between 11 and 12 February and “provided false information to concerned authorities”, claiming to be tourists, police said on Monday.The four entered Bahrain between 11 and 12 February and “provided false information to concerned authorities”, claiming to be tourists, police said on Monday.
However, “some of those arrested had carried out journalistic activities without permission from concerned authorities, in addition to carrying out illegal acts”.However, “some of those arrested had carried out journalistic activities without permission from concerned authorities, in addition to carrying out illegal acts”.
A spokesman for Day’s family said the four were committed journalists and denied they had done anything wrong. The spokesman confirmed they were arrested on Sunday, and called for their immediate release. A spokesman for Day’s family said the four were committed journalists and denied they had done anything wrong.
“The allegation that they were in any way involved in illegal behaviour or anything other than journalistic activities is impossible,” the spokesman said in a statement.“The allegation that they were in any way involved in illegal behaviour or anything other than journalistic activities is impossible,” the spokesman said in a statement.
Day is an award-winning journalist who has reported extensively from the Middle East, North Africa and elsewhere, and her work has been featured in news outlets including the New York Times and CNN, the statement added.Day is an award-winning journalist who has reported extensively from the Middle East, North Africa and elsewhere, and her work has been featured in news outlets including the New York Times and CNN, the statement added.
The four were arrested while working in Bahrain, it added without giving details. Home to the US Fifth Fleet, Bahrain was rocked by an Arab Spring-inspired uprising demanding reforms and a constitutional monarchy on 14 February 2011.
Bahrain said the case of the four detainees has been referred to the public prosecution. Authorities crushed the protest movement one month later. But demonstrators still take to the streets and clash with police in Shia towns surrounding the capital, Manama.
Home to the US Fifth Fleet, Bahrain was rocked by an Arab Spring-inspired uprising demanding reforms and a constitutional monarchy on February 14, 2011.
Authorities crushed the protest movement one month later. But demonstrators still take to the streets and clash with police in Shiite towns surrounding Manama.