MANAMA: A bomb killed two policemen and wounded six in the deadliest such attack in Bahrain in months, and state media said the explosives resembled some seized on Saturday that authorities say were smuggled in from Iran.

“A terrorist bombing targeted policemen on duty in the Sitra area,” the Interior Ministry said.

Bahrain has long accused Iran of stirring up unrest among its population and tensions between the two sides have risen in recent days, with Bahrain recalling its ambassador from Tehran on Saturday.

The bombing outside a girls’ school in the village of Sitra was the first in Bahrain for several months, and the worst since March 2014, when a blast killed three policemen.

The blast also wounded six policemen, two critically, two of whom are stable in intensive care, and two who have been discharged, BNA reported. The force of the blast ripped a large hole in the wall of the school, which was closed for the summer holidays, a Reuters witness said.

GCC Secretary General Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani strongly condemned the blast. He described the incident as a heinous crime.

He underlined constant support of the GCC countries to Bahrain in all measures taken to preserve its security and stability and ensure people’s safety.

Gulf leaders are also deeply critical of Iranian involvement in regional conflicts in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and accuse Tehran of contributing to sectarian violence in the region.

In a message posted on his Twitter account, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, suggested there was no difference between Sunni or Shiite militants, adding: “Their goal is the same, and their reference point is Iran.”

BNA said the explosives were similar to those seized by security forces on Saturday, which the government says were smuggled into the country by two Bahrainis with links to Iran.

Bahrain also recalled its ambassador to Tehran for consultations on Saturday after what it said were repeated hostile statements made by Iranian officials.

Iran’s role in the region was unpredictable due to internal divisions, said Aimen Dean, managing director of the Five Dimensions consultancy.

“There is one foreign policy pursued by (President Hassan) Rouhani and Zarif, and another pursued by the IRGC and the Qods Force,” he said, referring to powerful revolutionary factions not accountable to the elected government.

Al-Wefaq, Bahrain’s largest opposition movement, condemned the attack in a statement on its website.