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A device exploded outside the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet base in Bahrain Monday night, causing alarm but no injuries or serious damage, Bahraini officials said.

An Information Ministry official said the explosion was caused by a cooking-gas cylinder, but security officials at the scene said it may have been a bomb. They were all speaking on condition of anonymity.

There was no fire.

The explosion occurred outside a compound housing Americans across the street from the base, about 100 meters (yards) away. Windows were broken in several villas inside the compound.

A forensic team arrived and police blocked off the site.

Some 4,000 U.S. military personnel are attached to the base.

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