Bahrain arrests 8 members of Iranian terror cell

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Bahrain’s interior minister says police have arrested eight members of an alleged terrorist cell linked to Iran and other countries following widespread clashes in the Gulf nation during protests marking the second anniversary of an Arab Spring-inspired uprising.

A statement Sunday on the ministry’s website said the suspected terror network received training and financial support from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon — references to Iranian-backed Shiite groups such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah and others.

Bahrain’s Western-backed Sunni monarchy has frequently accused Shiite power Iran and its allies of aiding the uprising by Bahrain’s majority Shiites. Iran denies the charges.

Bahrain courts have previously convicted suspects for alleged coup plotting and links to Iran and Hezbollah, but no clear evidence has been made public.

Bahrain is home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.