Bahrain’s public prosecution has ordered on Tuesday a one-week extension for the detention of 12-year-old Mirza AbdulShaheed accused of blocking roads by burning tyres, activists say.

According to reports, AbdulShaheed has been detained since August 8. The 12-year-old was arrested along with 13-year old Mohsen Mohamed whose detention was also extended on Tuesday.

AbdulShaheed's mother reportedly fainted when the public prosecution announced that her son's detention was being extended for the third time.

Photographs posted on social networks showed the young boy crying as he was being dragged away by a security agent.

Mirza AbdulShaheed is not the youngest child to have been detained in the Gulf nation. 11-year-old Ali Hassan was released in June after spending close to a month in jail for taking part in anti-government protests. A Bahraini court ruled early July that the young boy may remain at home but must be monitored by authorities.