A pipe bomb attack on riot police in Bahrain's Eker village highlighted the violent escalation of unrest during the 2011–2012 Bahraini uprising.
Key Facts
- Date
- 10 April 2012
- Location
- Village of Eker, southern Bahrain
- Policemen injured
- 7 persons
- Severely injured
- 3 persons
- Device type
- Pipe bomb attached to a gasoline-filled container
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the ongoing Bahraini unrest, protesters in the village of Eker reportedly used petrol bombs to draw riot police into the area. According to the Ministry of Interior, security forces were deliberately lured to the village before a concealed explosive device was triggered against them.
On 10 April 2012, a pipe bomb attached to a container of gasoline was detonated in Eker, injuring seven policemen, three of them severely. The attack targeted riot police who had responded to petrol-bomb-throwing protesters in the village.
The bombing intensified tensions between security forces and opposition groups. Al Wefaq, Bahrain's main opposition party, disputed the government's account, alleging that security forces had surrounded the village and subjected residents to collective punishment, including firing pellet guns at civilians.