Bid to sabotage F1 race foiled

Police foiled repeated attempts by rioters to sabotage the three-day Formula One race, Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said yesterday.

There were 70 clashes with police from April 12 to 16 at 17 different locations, mostly in villages, he said.

Shaikh Rashid said the rioters seemed to be trying to make their way closer to the Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, but were resisted by the security forces.

"We would like the media to play a greater role in making these people understand that the F1 event benefits everyone in Bahrain, including them," he said.

The minister added that the residents of these villages were often the ones who are most affected by such acts of violence.

"Roads are blocked and public property burned. The ones who suffer the most are those who live in these areas," said Shaikh Rashid.