(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah has received an angry greeting in London, with protesters condemning the ruling Al Khalifah regime for its crackdown on dissent in the Persian Gulf kingdom.
Protesters threw themselves at a car carrying the King of Bahrain outside Downing Street today.
One unnamed man burst through a crowd and appeared to bang on the windows of the limousine carrying King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Police managed to grab the suspect before pinning him and putting him in handcuffs yards from the door of No 10.
King Hamad, who saw the Queen on his UK visit yesterday, met Theresa May this afternoon.
Protesters chanted anti-government slogans and demanded the Manama regime be investigated for its rights abuses.
Two prominent Bahraini human rights activists were detained by London police during the rally.
Sayee Alwadaei, one of the arrested activists, told The Middle East Eye that the police “should be investigating the torture allegations coming from Bahrain, the abuses committed by the regime” rather than targeting activists or journalists.
International human rights organization Reprieve also raised concerns about the king's visit, which comes only a week after reports surfaced that the UK was helping to “whitewash” government abuse in Bahrain.
“Britain is deeply involved with Bahrain’s interior ministry at every level. The prime minister cannot wash her hands of torture and death sentences in the kingdom,” said Harriet McCulloch, deputy director of Reprieve's death penalty team.
Manama has relentlessly been cracking down on dissent. Troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been deployed to the country to assist in the crackdown on peaceful protests.
Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others injured or arrested in the Bahraini crackdown on the anti-regime activists.
