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Tear gas used to quell Bahrain F1 protests
Government accused of rounding up troublemakers ahead of lucrative Grand Prix
Security forces fired tear gas to disperse protesters at a secondary school in Bahrain
as calls grew for this weekend's Formula One race to be called off due to escalating violence.
The skirmishes came after the arrest of a student at the boys' school, amid accusations that
the government is arbitrarily arresting potential troublemakers ahead of the Grand Prix.
The Interior Ministry said that "thugs" at Al Jabriya School in the capital Manama had been
dealt with in line with the law.
Authorities have doubled efforts in recent weeks to quell unrest that has blighted the country
for the past two years, since protesters, largely from the country's Shia majority, took to the
streets complaining of widespread discrimination under the country's Sunni monarchy.
Bernie Ecclestone, the head of Formula One - the coffers of which are boosted by $40m (£26m)
in hosting fees from Bahrain - has so far resisted calls to call off the race. He likened the
demonstrators to those protesting Baroness Thatcher's funeral, saying "people use these
things when there is an opportunity". His refusal to reconsider comes despite the fact that
often violent demonstrations and scuffles with security forces have ramped up over the past
week as protesters demand that the race is cancelled. A series of small explosions rocked the
country on Sunday, adding to security concerns.
The blasts, one of which destroyed a car in the city's financial district, caused no casualties
but the Coalition of February 14 Youth claimed responsibility and threatened further action if the
race was not called off, in a campaign it has called "volcanic flames". The hacktivist group Anonymous
also issued a threat to wreck Mr Ecclestone's "little party", calling on him to "cancel your blood race now".