Bahrain dismantles 'terror cell' linked to Iran

Bahrain says it has dismantled a "terror" cell linked to Iran that was planning attacks in the kingdom, amid a growing diplomatic crisis between Gulf Arab states and Tehran.

The cell was allegedly linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Lebanon's Hizballah and was planning to carry out a "series of dangerous bombings" on the tiny Sunni-ruled kingdom, an interior ministry statement said.

Members of the "secret terrorist organisation" have been identified and many arrested, said the statement on the official BNA news agency, adding that others remain at large.

Among those arrested were 33-year-old twins Ali and Mohammed Fakhrawi identified as leaders of the group.

The cell is allegedly linked to the little-known al-Ashtar Brigades which has reportedly claimed responsibility for bombings in the Shia-majority kingdom, including one outside a Sunni mosque in 2013.

It is also linked to suspects involved a July 28 bombing that killed two policemen and wounded six others.

Al-Ashtar Brigade, as well as Hizballah, are on Bahrain's list of "terrorist groups."

The twins have travelled to Iran on several occasions to obtain financial and logistical support, relying on their relations with "terrorist elements" that have strong ties with the Revolutionary Guard and Hizballah, the statement said.

Ali Fakhrawi and two other suspects also met in 2012 with Hizballah chief Hassan Nasrallah and his deputy who offered them "$20,000 (18,520 euros) in support of their organisation," Bahrain said.

The tiny but strategic US ally has seen frequent unrest since a Shia-led uprising erupted in 2011 demanding a constitutional monarchy.

Bahrain frequently accuses Tehran of backing the unrest.

Wednesday's announcement comes as tensions widened between Saudi Arabia and Iran after protesters torched the kingdom's diplomatic missions in the Islamic republic following the Saturday execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.