Bahrain Mirror: Heavily armed forces raided Diraz village where thousands of Bahrainis have been protesting since 6 months outside the house of the spiritual leader of Shia majority Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim.

Photos showed the security forces' raiding the protest square at 9:53 AM on Wednesday (December 21, 2016) and surrounding it. It was also reported that the forces raided Sheikh Isa Qassim's house.

Allah is the Greatest (Allahu Akbar) chants were heard from the minarets and soon hundreds of protestors, men and women, headed to Sheikh Qassim's house, which led to clashes resulting in number injuries and choking cases. Eyewitnesses said that the injuries were simple.

Some of the people found at Sheikh Qassim's house said that the security forces did not break into the Sheikh's house, stressing that Sheikh Isa was at his house and was not hurt. Dozens of protestors then made a human fence surrounding Qassim's house.

Footages and photos showed armored vehicles and security forces wearing civilian clothes entering the village which was surrounded with dozens of vehicles. A large number of security enhancements reached Diraz's surrounding. Besides, the forces prevented entry to the village through all the checkpoints that have been deployed since 6 months.

The Ministry of Interior said in a tweet that it was executing judicial orders; arresting wanted and searching their houses. Eyewitness said that the security forces broke into a houses near Ayatollah Qassim's house and arrested two youths without mentioning the reasons.

Although the security forces withdrew, eyewitnesses highlighted that large number of security enhancements reached Diraz's surrounding. There are fears that will be another attempt to disperse Diraz protest.

Arabic Version