Bahrain: Hit and Run at Protest

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.

During Monday afternoon's protest at the Bahrain Financial Harbour, a hit and run incident occurred which led to minor injuries to three protesters. On Twitter, the discussion continued well into the night on what happened, with different people suggesting various scenarios. Later at night, videos were circulated showing how the accident happened.

Here is the chitchat from Twitter:

@MZ5aaan: Protesters should understand that #BFH is not as safe as #lulu, its a highway, hunt for a different place #Bahrain

@RedhaHaji: Confirmed reports that 3 Pro democracy demonstrators at #BFH were injured when a car hit them. Not sure accident/ intentional #bahrain #lulu

@anmarek: Ambulance s here after a pro-gov driver had intentionally crashed protesters.. #bahrain #feb14 #lulu http://twitpic.com/47551o

@Kaoutsar: @emoodz Any proofs (videos) showing that the accident was intentional? #Bahrain #feb14

@ba7ari: Anonymous woman hit a protester in #manama #bahrain #feb14 #eu #us #hrw #gcc #gulf #f1 #un #formula1 http://twitpic.com/4759xs

Hussainzt [Ar] tweets:

#bahrain #feb14 بخصوص حادث المرفأ يجب الاتصال بالمرور ورفع قضية وعتبار ما حصل حادث مرور طبيعي خصوصا ان المتسبب قد هرب ستكون عقوبته السجن

“Regarding the accident at the Financial Harbour, you should call the traffic police and complain, especially since the accident is a hit and run, and the punishment for a driver who flees from an accident scene is imprisonment.”

@B2Lsh: even if it wasn't intentional, i still consider it as a crime, to run over people then run away! #lulu #Bahrain #BFH

@fredwillie460: #Bahrain #bfh – lots of stories concerning todays accident at junction the fact is this was no0t a demonstration it was intimidation

@YAGthis: The lady in the prado,a cult hero OR a criminal bal6agy? #bahrain #bfh

@peacebahrain: @fredwillie460 protestors attack lady in a car #BFH jst ‘cos she hs pix of PM & shook car,she got scared – any1 would -she paniced #Bahrain

@peacebahrain: @imran_al_aradi @MsDeviantZ yes,she paniced and hit the accelerator #BFH – I imagine she was terrified #Bahrain, this is no peaceful protest

@Bahrain1st: Lol I heard some black jeep ran over two idiots by BFH can anyone confirm?

@yusufbukhammas: Like Everybody in #Bahrain. I am waiting on the full detailes abt #BFH accident.

@yslaise: It's too early to judge about the hit & run at #BFH as it's still very unclear and Hamad Town-esque at the mo, glad the injuries weren't bad

A few hours after the incident two YouTube videos started circulating on social media giving a clearer image of the afternoon's events.

Uploaded by YouTube user alim9000 showing the protesters surrounding the car

http://youtu.be/lo_JUUU_8JY
Uploaded by YouTube user SEARCHMEALL showing the woman stopping in the midst of the protest, then driving off before the scene was cut to one of the protesters being carried away by paramedics.

PoliticalAnalyzer1 posts yet another video of the accident on YouTube, showing a young man making way for her to drive out of the crowd – a man she then hits as she sped off: