Bahrain said today it had arrested five Bahrainis allegedly planning "terrorist" attacks in the country, which is the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, the official Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.
"Security forces arrested a cell which was planning terrorist attacks after receiving information on their movement which targeted national interests in the kingdom and the lives of innocent nationals," said BNA, quoting a security official.
The agency gave no specific information on what might have been the target of any attack.
Ammunition and weapons were seized during the arrests of the five Bahraini men, who were aged between 30 and 41, the agency said.
"Investigations have started with this terrorist group to find out if they belong to certain political organisations or if they were working alone," the official said, adding that the suspects would be handed over to the courts for trial.
The arrests came amid heightened anti-American sentiment in the Gulf region ahead of a possible US-led attack on Muslim Iraq. Washington is pouring troops and arms into the region and Bahrain is likely to be a launchpad for any attack on Iraq.