DUBAI: Two people were killed on Saturday when their car exploded in a village in Bahrain, the interior ministry said, although it was unclear whether the vehicle itself had been targeted.

A third person was wounded in the blast and taken to hospital as civil defence personnel were hurt in a separate explosion, the ministry said.

An uprising against the ruling dynasty in the Shia majority kingdom began in 2011, and protesters still clash regularly with police.

“Two burned bodies and one injured person were found” in a “civilian” car that exploded in the village of Mughsha, the interior ministry said.

“Initial investigations have shown that the blast was caused by explosive devices inside the car,” the official BNA news agency cited the ministry as saying.

No further details were given on whether the vehicle it had been targeted directly or whether the blast had been accidental.

Witnesses said they heard a loud bang shortly before the car was gutted by fire, and that authorities cordoned off the area.—AFP