Bahrain said on Tuesday that it has foiled a major terrorist plot and arrested 20 fugitives who were trying to escape to Iran by sea.

Four of those arrested were women, the Interior Ministry said, referring to counter-terror operations conducted in mid-February.

"A number of terrorist cells which were about to carry out terrorist attacks were dismantled," the ministry said in a statement.

"Proactive operations were successfully conducted and 20 individuals wanted for security issues were arrested," it said. "Four women were among those arrested and were charged with aiding and abetting fugitives."

One of those arrested admitted to killing a police officer on Jan. 29.

Among the arrested, two were involved in establishing secret bomb-manufacturing warehouses and eight had received military training in Iran and Iraq and participated in the Jan. 1 jailbreak at Jaw prison, the statement added.

The ministry released names and photographs of the fugitives, including members of the outlawed Al Dair terrorist group, and a 34-year-old, whom the ministry said received military training in Iran.

Bahrain's security forces shot dead three terrorist fugitives and wounded two others while pursuing a boat heading for Iran on Feb. 9, authorities said.

A total of 18 policemen have been killed since the 2011 unrest, and over 3,200 others were wounded in terrorist attacks in Bahrain.

source: Xinhua