MANAMA – (AFP) – Bahraini authorities have arrested one of its nationals suspected of having links with an alleged spy cell busted in Kuwait and said to be working for Iran.
The man's name appeared in Kuwait's investigation of the group's activities, the interior ministry said in a statement released late on Monday.
"Specialised security authorities have arrested a Bahraini suspect after his name was mentioned in the investigation of the case of the spy cell," said General Mohammed Buhamud, the ministry's undersecretary for legal affairs.
The suspect was referred to prosecution which has kept him in custody, the official said in the statement.
"Harming the security of any Gulf country is an attack against the security of all countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council," he added, without disclosing further details on the suspect.
Kuwait said last week that several suspects were being questioned in connection with a busted spy cell, but it fell short of confirming press reports that they were spying for Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
At least seven people, including members of Kuwait's army and police, were under arrest, according to the Kuwaiti daily Al-Qabas, which added that the security forces were hunting for several other suspects.
The paper cited a senior security source as saying the men had confessed to monitoring and photographing Kuwaiti and US military sites for the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards. Iran has categorically denied the charges.
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, meanwhile, last week denied that the security of the Arab monarchies in the Gulf had been comprised.
