MANAMA, Bahrain, April 11 (UPI) -- Bahraini authorities announced Wednesday they were conducting an in-depth investigation into an attack that left several policemen injured this week.
Bahraini officials said seven policemen were injured, three critically, in a "terrorist attack" Monday in the village of al-Akr.
Wael Buallay, chief prosecutor in Bahrain, said authorities moved immediately to the blast site and sent forensic teams to investigate the scene, the official Bahrain news agency reports.
The news service said suspects were in custody and would remain in detention during the investigation.
Al-Wefaq, the country's Shiite opposition party, was quoted by the BBC as saying security forces had "entirely surrounded" the village and were keen on "imposing collective punishment."
The country's Interior Ministry said demonstrators tried to coax police into the area before the explosive device detonated.
Bahrain was gripped by anti-government protests last year. Demonstrations rekindled after Manama sentenced human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja to life in prison for allegedly plotting against the government. He's been on a hunger strike for more than two months.
The U.S. State Department said its representatives were in contact with government officials to express "clear our concern about this case."
