MANAMA, 28 July 2005 — A Saudi youth caused an alarm among Bahraini security services late Tuesday night when he used his car to break through the inspection and passport gates of the King Fahd Causeway on the Bahraini side, driving toward the mainland.
Police units from all the services under the umbrella of the Ministry of Interior were scrambled to begin a massive manhunt for the driver and his white Ford, which they feared to be carrying explosives.
The alert covered all working police and undercover units in the small island, after Causeway police failed to halt the car down before it exited the 25-km Causeway.
The youth, who was only identified as N.M.A, in his 20s, was located by a police unit about 20 minutes later in Hidd, north of the capital Manama, less than 2 km away from the vital installation of Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard.
Police sealed off the area and blocked the roads after they discovered the white Ford parked near a playground and managed to arrest the youth after a short chase on foot.
The youth, who is said to be undergoing medical treatment for psychological and addiction problems, told investigators that he drove from Riyadh to Bahrain, a distance of some 400 km to have a “scene change” and enjoy the weather after an argument with some of his friends.
According to sources, the youth is under a travel ban by the Saudi authorities for involvement in drug related cases. He was taken into the custody of the Causeway police, while his car was impounded after bomb and drug investigators searched it.
