Police in Bahrain have fired tear gas and clashed with students in a raid on a secondary school in the capital, Manama, reports say.

Officers stormed the Jabreya school for boys after students staged a protest demanding the release of a colleague arrested on Monday, activists say.

About 100 people have been arrested this month amid growing tension ahead of Sunday’s F1 Grand Prix in Bahrain.

The kingdom has been rocked by anti-government protests since early 2011.

The latest incident comes a day after a car bomb blew up in Manama, though without causing injuries.

An opposition group calling itself the February 14 movement has said it was behind the blast.

Activists tweeted pictures purporting to show clouds of tear gas at Jabreya school, with people wincing and covering their faces.

Images also showed dozens of spent canisters of tear gas and stun grenades. Unconfirmed reports said there had been injuries.

One father, Mohamed Jaber, went to the school to collect his son but was told by police to leave, the Associated Press news agency reported.

The Ministry of Interior said on its twitter account “police dealt with a group of thugs outside Jabriya school according to legal regulations”.

The clashes erupted when police went to break up a protest calling for the release of 17-year-old Hassan Humidan, who was arrested at the school on Monday.

Bahrain crisis timeline

14 February, 2011: Demonstrators occupy iconic landmark, Pearl Roundabout in the capital
14 March: Gulf Cooperation Council force led by Saudi troops enters Bahrain. Police clear Pearl Roundabout
March-April: Hundreds arrested, thousands sacked from their jobs. Protest continue, 35 killed
23 November: Protests continue as Cherif Bassiouni releases damning report on human rights abuses. Authorities accept findings
Feb 10, 2013: Opposition and pro-government groups open dialogue but unrest continues

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