Bahraini authorities announce weapons seizures and say car bomb was defused

MANAMA, Bahrain – Bahraini officials say they seized stocks of weapons and defused a car bomb during two days of security raids in the Gulf nation, which has faced nearly three years of unrest.

Public Security Chief Tareq al-Hassan announced the finds Monday and said authorities had captured 13 people wanted in connection with security cases aboard a boat allegedly smuggling them out of the island kingdom. He says the seizures took place Saturday and Sunday.

Plastic explosives, detonators, automatic rifles and ammunition were found in a warehouse and onboard a second boat intercepted as it was heading to the country.

He says authorities defused the car bomb in the Hoora area of the capital Manama.

Bombs have become more frequent in Bahrain as a three-year anti-government opposition campaign wears on.