In February 2011 the Bahraini authorities sought to repress pro-democracy protests around the Pearl Roundabout , a traffic circle near the financial district in Bahrain 's capital Manama ( part of the wider Arab Spring movement ) . On 17 February , in an attack by police that subsequently became known as Bloody Thursday ; four protesters died and more than 300 were injured . Protests involving up to one fifth of the population continued over the next month until the government called in Gulf Cooperation Council troops and police and declared a three-month state of emergency . Despite the brutal crack-down that followed , smaller-scale protests and clashes continued , mostly outside Manama 's business districts . By April 2012 , more than 80 people had died during the uprising . As of December 2012 , protests are ongoing
Bloody Thursday
Bahrain Bloody Thursday
Bahrain Thirteen