Protester found dead on eve of Bahrain Grand Prix A man was found dead in Bahrain this morning, ratcheting up tensions ahead of Sunday's controversial Grand Prix, as the opposition claimed he had been killed by police. Residents of Shakhura village on the outskirts of the capital said the protester had been discovered on Saturday morning after a demonstration was attacked by police on Friday night. Other protesters who survived the same incident said they were beaten by police, according to activists. The main Shia opposition group, al-Wefaq, identified the man as Salah Abbas al-Qattan, 37. Makar Matar, a member of Wefaq, said Mr Qattan "had been killed by police one day before F1." The ministry of interior confirmed that a body had been found in the village, saying police had launched an investigation. Earlier Friday, tens of thousands had marched to call for democracy as they criticised the holding of the Grand Prix in the absence of real reform. Nabeel Rajab, a human-rights activist, on Saturday attempted to identify the body, which had been found on a roof. Mr Rajab, members of Mr Qattan's family and residents were dispersed by police using tear gas and stun grenades, witnesses said. Confrontations between youths from the majority Shia community and police are intensifying in the run-up to the Grand Prix, which was cancelled last year because of widespread unrest. The death of another protester will ramp up tensions on the eve of the Formula 1 race. The time of the funeral - a common flashpoint between protesters and police - has not been confirmed. According to Islamic tradition, the body should be buried within 24 hours. The opposition estimates the death toll since last year's protests broke out in February has surpassed 60. F1 participants are already nervous about safety after two teams witnessed petrol bomb attacks. The minority Sunni-led government, which says it is introducing reforms, is keen to show that Bahrain is back to normal after a tumultuous year of revolt and repression undermined the image of the kingdom as a financial and tourist centre. The reform-minded crown prince, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who brought Formula 1 to Bahrain in 2004, says the event will allow the divided country to start to heal itself. But most protesters say the race merely legitimises a repressive government. They say Bahrain has not implemented reforms after its security forces were condemned for excessive use of force and systematic torture since widespread pro-democracy demonstrations were quelled with Saudi backing last March.