![\"Bernie-Ecclestone-2\"](\"https:\/\/www.racinginfocus.com\/rif\/gallery\/f1-2012-rif-images\/f1-12-people\/Bernie-Ecclestone-2.jpg\")
Earlier, amid reports of explosions near the formula one circuit linked directly to anti-government protests against the race, the F1 chief executive simply issued a blank denial.<\/p>\nBernie Ecclestone has toned down his rhetoric ahead of the weekend’s highly controversial Bahrain grand prix.<\/p>\n
Earlier, amid reports of explosions near the formula one circuit linked directly to anti-government protests against the race, the F1 chief executive simply issued a blank denial.<\/p>\n
“What’s happened?\u00a0 They’re demonstrating now?\u00a0 I didn’t know that,” he told AP news agency.<\/p>\n
“There’s nobody demonstrating.”<\/p>\n
However, even the government confirmed Sunday’s attack by a “terrorist group”, while the group itself admitted it blew up the car “in opposition to holding the formula one race”.<\/p>\n
And bringing the situation into stark focus are the events in the US, where terrorists have exploded bombs near the finish-line of the iconic Boston Marathon, with devastating effects.<\/p>\n
Referring to Bahrain, Ecclestone told British newspapers: “We don’t want to see trouble.\u00a0 We don’t want to see people arguing and fighting about things we don’t understand, because we really don’t understand.<\/p>\n
“We don’t want to see people repressed as a result of the race.<\/p>\n
“Some people feel it’s our fault there are problems.\u00a0 We are extremely sympathetic to them.”<\/p>\n
The 82-year-old Briton, however, suggested the protesters are taking advantage of the global coverage attracted by F1, and played down the threat they really pose.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think the people who are arguing about their position are bad people, and I don’t think they’re trying to hurt people to make their point,” he said.<\/p>\n
A government spokeswoman told Bahrain news agency BNA that “appropriate security measures” are in place for the grand prix.<\/p>\n
“The security situation in Bahrain is very reassuring,” she added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the internet ‘hacktivist’ group Anonymous has threatened to disrupt the sport if it does not cancel the Bahrain grand prix.<\/p>\n
“Bernie Ecclestone and the royal family of Bahrain have learned nothing,” the group said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“We will remove you from the worldwide web.\u00a0 We call upon Bernie Ecclestone while there is still time — cancel your blood race now.”<\/p>\n
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