Bahrain Refers 14 to Criminal Trial Over Alleged IRGC-linked Espionage Network

Bahrain’s Public Prosecutor has referred 14 defendants to criminal trial in four separate espionage cases involving alleged links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to the state news agency. Some of the accused are believed to have fled and are currently in Iran.

The charges stem from investigations into suspected spying activities, which also found that one of the defendants had undergone military training at camps run by the Guards.

The referrals follow investigations that found the defendants had formed separate cells in three of the cases, while the fourth involves a female defendant. The announcement comes as the US-Israel Iran war entered its Day 27.

The 14 defendants face charges of seeking and conspiring with Iran's IRGC with the intent to carry out hostile and warlike acts against Bahrain, aiding its activities, and receiving, transferring and delivering funds to support such operations. One of them had undergone military training at camps run by the Guards.

The accused also shared information classified as part of the country's defence secrets and circulated false news and malicious rumours intended to spread panic among citizens and residents, while promoting and glorifying hostile acts against the Kingdom.

Investigations into the four cases were launched following reports that, amid Iranian aggression against Bahrain, the defendants — linked organisationally to terrorist groups and operating in separate cells — had received assignments from members of or individuals closely connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which had recruited them.

They were tasked with monitoring and photographing several vital facilities and sites, and gathering intelligence on them in preparation for potential targeting.

“The defendants executed the assignments assigned to them and transmitted the images and intelligence they gathered to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which subsequently used them to carry out hostile operations against the Kingdom. Buildings and facilities that had been monitored by the defendants were targeted based on the intelligence they had supplied as part of their espionage activities,” the Public Prosecution said in a statement.

Sharing sensitive locations on social media

A social media account was also identified as having posted images of vital and sensitive locations within the Kingdom, alongside false news and malicious rumours, while promoting and glorifying Iranian aggression and hostile operations targeting the country.

Investigations identified the woman operating the account, who was found to be in communication and conspiracy with members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to assist in carrying out hostile acts against the Kingdom.

This included publishing maps and images of vital sites and facilities, accompanied by statements suggesting the possibility of them being targeted militarily. She also transmitted images and coordinates of several key and strategic locations in the country through an encrypted application for the same purpose. It was further established that she published visual material of locations that had been targeted in attacks, with the aim of glorifying and promoting such acts, in addition to spreading false news and rumours claiming that certain vital sites had been hit and that casualties had occurred among citizens and residents, in an attempt to incite panic.

During questioning, some of the defendants admitted in detail to the charges against them. Witness testimonies were recorded, and forensic examinations were ordered on the technical devices used in carrying out the alleged acts.

The Public Prosecution ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody and referred to trial before the High Criminal Court.

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