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Bahrain blows up parcel of suspected explosives from UK | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Bahrain says staff at its airport have detonated a suspect package sent from Britain via Dubai, the week after a blast near the British embassy. | |
The parcel was originally thought to contain explosives but on examination, the ministry of interior said it contained only bomb-making materials. | |
Officials in Bahrain have told the BBC they believe the device was a dummy to "test their defences". | |
The UK Foreign Office says it is aware of the reports and is checking them. | The UK Foreign Office says it is aware of the reports and is checking them. |
Meanwhile, riot police in the capital Manama fired tear gas and rubber bullets at hundreds of protesters trying to reach a key landmark. | |
The Shia-majority protesters - who are demanding more rights from Bahrain's Sunni rulers - were trying to reach Pearl Square, the centre of demonstrations which erupted earlier this year. | The Shia-majority protesters - who are demanding more rights from Bahrain's Sunni rulers - were trying to reach Pearl Square, the centre of demonstrations which erupted earlier this year. |
They began marching after ceremonies commemorating the death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein, in 680AD, a key event in the Shia faith. | |
There were no immediate reports of injuries. | |
Blast near embassy | Blast near embassy |
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says UK counter-terrorism police are working with the Bahraini authorities to investigate the device. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says UK counter-terrorism police are working with the Bahraini authorities to investigate the device. |
After detonating the package, Bahrain's ministry of interior said on its Twitter account: "Correction: after examining package at lab it turns the materials used aren't explosives, but contained tools used to make explosives". | After detonating the package, Bahrain's ministry of interior said on its Twitter account: "Correction: after examining package at lab it turns the materials used aren't explosives, but contained tools used to make explosives". |
On Sunday, Bahrain said an explosion outside the British embassy in the capital Manama was caused by a bomb placed under a vehicle nearby. It blew the wheel off a van and damaged other vehicles nearby. | |
British diplomats were not thought to be the target, our correspondent says. | |
Last week, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that a senior police officer who resigned from the Metropolitan Police earlier this year was going to Bahrain to help reform the police there. | Last week, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that a senior police officer who resigned from the Metropolitan Police earlier this year was going to Bahrain to help reform the police there. |
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