Office workers take cover in coffee shop

OFFICE workers were forced to take refuge in a coffee shop as police clashed with protesters in one of Bahrain's main business districts yesterday.

Two women were among those who ran into Starbucks to escape tear gas fired to disperse the crowd outside the High Criminal Court in the Diplomatic Area.

Violence erupted after news spread that seven Bahrainis had each been jailed for 25 years after being convicted of killing a Pakistani man in a Molotov cocktail attack.

"They came running into the shop looking really afraid and they both had red eyes from the smoke," said Starbucks worker Lesly Sebastian.

"The riot only lasted for around 15 minutes but I was a little afraid, especially when I heard loud noises outside that sounded like explosions."

Other nearby businesses were more concerned with keeping the rioters out than letting office workers in.

Havana Market shopkeeper Mohammed Ashraq said he locked the doors when he heard the commotion outside.

"I heard a loud noise and when I looked outside I saw people running past the shop being chased by police in riot gear," he told the GDN.

"When police fired tear gas, there was a really bad smell coming from the smoke.

"I locked the doors to stop people coming inside, some people were pulling on the door but I didn't know if they were protesters or customers."

One nearby office worker, who did not wish to be named, said the riot started after protesters threw water bottles at police, who in turn, fired six shots of tear gas into the crowd.

"Lots of people upstairs heard the noise outside and were calling down to security to see what was happening," he said.

"I was outside smoking at the time and security guards at my office told me to get back into the building.

"Before I went back inside, I noticed a helicopter flying above the court, presumably patrolling the area, looking for protesters who had fled.

"This is not the first time I've seen a riot but it is the closest I've ever been to one".

A security guard from the office said the building had been safe from protesters because all the entrances and exits were monitored by security cameras.

From: Gulf Daily News