Bahraini police have detained four American journalists for providing "false information that they were tourists," and also alleged that one took part in an attack on officers.
The US embassy in Manama issued a statement saying it was "aware of the arrest of four US citizens in Bahrain" on Sunday, but did not provide further details due to privacy concerns.
The journalists' identities and the media outlet they were working for was not immediately available. Bahraini police said one was a woman and the other three were men.
Images of the reporters circlated on social media, including one photograph of a woman being filmed while interviewing a masked protester.
The Interior Ministry alleged one of the four reporters “was wearing a mask and participating in attacks on police alongside other rioters in Sitra.” The statement also said they had entered the country on tourist visas between Thursday and Friday, and did not register as media.
“At least some of the arrestees were in the country as members of the international media but had not registered with the concerned authority and were involved in illegal activities,” the statement said.
A statment from state-run Bahrain News Agency said they had “been afforded full legal rights in line with the kingdom’s procedures and constitution while investigations continue.”
