Ten jailed for life in Bahrain over attacks plot

Three were sentenced in absentia after fleeing to Iran, tweeted the head of the Ahmad Al Hamadi, head of the counter-terrorism prosecution

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Bahrain's lower court jailed 10 Shiite men for life on Tuesday on charges of plotting attacks a day after sentencing 19 others to lengthy prison terms.

Three were sentenced in absentia after fleeing to Iran, tweeted the head of the Ahmad Al Hamadi, head of the counter-terrorism prosecution.

The 10 were also stripped of their Bahraini citizenship, added Mr Al Hamadi.

They had been charged with forming an outlawed group that plotted "terror" attacks, smuggling arms and ammunition into Bahrain, travelling to Iran and Iraq for military training and possessing arms and ammunition.

On Monday, 19 Shiites were given lengthy jail terms after being convicted of spying for Iran and plotting to overthrow the regime.

Eight were given life terms, nine got 15 years and two received 10 years for espionage and inciting public dissent, the counter-terrorism prosecutor's office said.

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Fifteen of those convicted on Monday were also stripped of Bahraini citizenship, it added.

Dozens of Bahrainis have been jailed and stripped of citizenship since the 2011 outbreak of protests demanding an elected government in the kingdom.

In April, parliament gave approval for military courts to try civilians charged with "terrorism".

Manama accuses Iran of training "terrorist cells" that aim to overthrow Bahrain's government, an allegation Tehran denies.