Police move on protesters in Bahrain, killing at least 3
By the CNN Wire Staff
February 17, 2011 -- Updated 1125 GMT (1925 HKT)
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Violent crackdown in Bahrain
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Police and military move in during crackdown on protesters
* Local hospital filled with scenes of chaos
* At least 3 people are killed when police confront protesters
* Police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators in
Pearl Roundabout
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Manama, Bahrain (CNN) -- What had been days of mostly peaceful demonstrations
changed dramatically in Bahrain early Thursday morning when police swarmed into
the capital city and forcibly removed protesters from the Pearl Roundabout.
Police came in with dozens of vehicles, surrounded the roundabout and began
firing "pellet bullets," rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators,
witnesses said.
At least three people were killed early Thursday morning during the incident,
emergency hospital services said.
Police were able to clear the roundabout of thousands of protesters and hours
after that, convoys more than 50 military armored personnel carriers each armed
with machine guns drove into the area. Convoys included trucks carrying razor
wire.
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Authorities pushed protesters out of the roundabout and sent many fleeing into
the darkness to side streets. But about 8 a.m. -- more than five hours after
the crackdown started -- the sound of tear gas canisters could be still be
heard.
An article Thursday in Bahrain's state media quoted an official in the
country's Ministry of the Interior talking about the crackdown.
"Public security forces carried out this morning the evacuation of the crowd
and the protesters from Pearl Square after exhausting all opportunities for
dialogue with them, some of them have responded and left quietly, while others
refused to comply with the law, which called to intervene in order to disperse
them," Bahrain News Agency reported.
Bahrain's armed forces also released a statement about the issue.
"The armed forces of Bahrain calls on all citizens to distance themselves from
gatherings in vital areas in the capital because this will have a negative
impact on traffic and will create fear and shock in the area, and will result
in a traffic crisis which will disrupt the daily life of the citizens and
endanger their personal interest," the statement said.
But the toll of the crackdown was evident at Salamaniya hospital in Manama.
A group of angry people gathered at the hospital, along with distraught family
members looking for loved ones.
Inside the hospital's emergency treatment room was a scene that neared chaos as
injured people struggled, some with head traumas, or suffering with bloody
wounds in the head and chest.
One 15-year-old boy there said he had gunshot wounds to his arm and abdomen. He
said he was with a group of people sleeping and was surprised by the police
crackdown.
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RELATED TOPICS
* Bahrain
Doctors also complained that they were not allowed by security forces to get
ambulances to the injured who were still on the ground near the roundabout
Thursday morning. After complaining to authorities, ambulances were allowed to
go into the area.
Bahrain is among the latest Arab states to face a surge of dissent following
the revolts that toppled longtime autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt.
This week, there have been thousands of activists camping at the foot of the
Pearl Roundabout, a Bahraini landmark. For days, police were nowhere in sight
as about 3,000 people laid out blankets and pitched tents in protest.
During the crackdown on Thursday, an ABC reporter was attacked while he was on
the phone, describing the scene for the network. In the midst of his report,
Miguel Marquez could suddenly be heard shouting on the audiotape, "Journalist!
Journalist! No! No!" Heavy thuds and the sounds of police yelling could also be
heard.
After several minutes, Marquez insisted repeatedly "I'm going! I'm going!" and
called out for co-workers. Finally, he returned to the audio line and told what
had just happened. His voice broke as he said, "These people are not screwing
around."
Bahrain is an American ally and houses the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's
Fifth Fleet. In Washington, the State Department said Tuesday it was "very
concerned" by the violence and said it welcomed the promise of an investigation.
The U.S. Embassy in Manama put out a statement on the crackdown Thursday.
"We remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful
can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence," the statement
said. "Please avoid these areas. If you encounter a large public gathering or
demonstration, depart the vicinity immediately."
Bahrain is ruled by a Sunni Muslim royal family, but two-thirds of the
population are Shiites. In recent years, younger Shiites have staged violent
protests to complain about discrimination, unemployment and corruption, and
many Shiites say the country's constitution has done little to improve their
condition.
The protests in Bahrain started Sunday. The protests intensified earlier this
week after two demonstrators were killed by security forces.
On Wednesday, Bahrain's Interior Ministry had said those involved in two deaths
during previous protests had been placed in custody.
"We express our regret over those who died or were injured in the latest
incidents and extend our sincere condolences to their families and to the
people of Bahrain," according to a statement on the ministry's website.
After that, protesters had largely been left alone by police until the recent
crackdown.
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