MANAMA: Bahrain said on Tuesday it was investigating torture claims by three men jailed for 15 years for two homemade-bomb attacks — including one during last year’s Formula 1 car race.

On Sunday, five men — including two who were tried in absentia — were convicted by a court for their role in the blasts, which destroyed several vehicles but caused no injuries, according to the BNA.

BNA said the men had admitted being behind the bombings but the men’s lawyer, Jassim Sarhan, told Reuters they pleaded not guilty to involvement in the attacks and told the court their confessions during questioning were obtained under torture.

“The Kingdom of Bahrain does not and will not tolerate any form of torture or mistreatment. The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) did receive complaints from the defendants,” the government’s Information Affairs Authority (IAA) said in an e-mailed statement to Reuters.

“The SIU takes these allegations very seriously and have looked into these claims. Their investigation is currently ongoing. We can’t give further information until the investigation is completed.”