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Bahrain newspaper editor injured in attack

MANAMA — Officials in Bahrain have described Wednesday’s attack on the managing editor of a local newspaper as an assassination attempt.

A Palestinian, Muhannad Abu Zeitoun, 31, who works for pro-government Al Watan newspaper, was attacked by two masked individuals outside his office in the early hours of Wednesday. They also set his car on fire.

Al Watan carries reports critical of opposition activities.

According to the interior ministry, one of the attackers struck Abu Zeitoun with a sharp object, while the other threw a Molotov cocktail inside his car, before fleeing the scene.

He was referred to a nearby health centre where he was treated for a wound in his left hand.

No one has been arrested so far by the police which have launched an intensive search. The fire was put out by a security guard of the newspaper.

“I cannot be certain whether the two masked men were targeting me personally, as they asked me if I worked for the paper before attacking me which means they might not have known me,” Abu Zeitoun told a local newspaper.

His other colleagues exited minutes before him but were not attacked by the two Bahrainis in their early twenties.

The Bahrain Journalists Association, meanwhile, strongly condemned the incident. — shamada@khaleejtimes.com