U.S.'s Yemen Embassy Attacked by Militants; 16 Killed (Update5)
By Massoud A. Derhally and Camilla Hall
Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Islamic terrorists targeted the U.S. Embassy in Yemen's capital, Sana'a, blowing up a car outside the entrance to the compound and killing 16 people in the second attack against the mission in six months.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters ``it is fair to say'' the assault ``bears all the hallmarks of an al-Qaeda attack.'' McCormack said he couldn't make any ``definitive judgments'' about the possible link because officials are still following up on suspicions about the perpetrators.
The death toll included six militants, four civilians and six Yemeni soldiers guarding the embassy, the state-run Saba news service said, citing the Interior Ministry. McCormack said all U.S. personnel are safe.
``Today's events demonstrate that terrorist criminals will not hesitate to kill innocent citizens and those charged with protecting them in pursuit of their agenda of terror,'' the embassy said in a statement. The mission is working with the Yemeni authorities ``to bring the perpetrators of this heinous terrorist crime to justice.''
A group by the name of Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened to carry out similar strikes in the Persian Gulf region if al-Qaeda prisoners aren't released by Yemen, the al-Arabiya news channel said. Osama bin Laden's family originally came from Yemen, and the country has served as a recruiting ground for al-Qaeda.
Explosions at Gate
The assault began at about 9:15 a.m. local time today, with ``a number of explosions'' at the building's main gate, the embassy said in its statement.
The fortified U.S. Embassy, located in the Dhahr Himyar area, lies about 250 meters (820 feet) from the entrance, where the attack took place. A fire was seen blazing from the compound and ambulances headed toward the area.
Of the six attackers killed, one was wearing a suicide belt, Saba said.
The attack involved a first car from which militants exchanged fire with embassy guards, using rocket-propelled grenades, and then a second bomb-laden car was blown up, Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based al-Arabiya said.
``I heard two loud explosions,'' Christy Quirk, 40, a consultant who was located two miles from the embassy in the lobby of the Burj al-Salam hotel in the old city, said in a phone interview.
`Violent Extremists'
``The U.S. condemns this attack,'' White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in a statement issued in Washington. ``This attack is a reminder of the continuing threat we face from violent extremists both at home and abroad.''
President George W. Bush was briefed early today on the incident, he said. The U.S. ``will continue to work with the government of Yemen to increase our counterterrorism activities to prevent more attacks from taking place,'' he added.
The State Department ordered the withdrawal of non- emergency staff and family members from the embassy in April following an attack on March 18 and an April 6 assault on the Hadda residential compound in Sana'a. The measure was lifted on Aug. 11 and the State Department recommended deferring non- essential travel to the country.
`Not a Surprise'
``This latest bombing is not a surprise,'' said Laura James, a Yemen analyst in London at the Economist Intelligence Unit. ``It will, however, be a disappointment to the Yemeni government, as it comes after a series of successes in the security forces' campaign to arrest local militants. As such, it may represent a counterattack by al-Qaeda-linked groups.''
In the March 18 incident, six children as well as Yemeni workers protecting the embassy were injured when a blast rocked a school close to the U.S. compound, Yemeni authorities said at the time.
Al-Qaeda terrorists attacked the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000, killing 17 sailors.
Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qurbi said the attack today was a response to government efforts to combat terrorism, Saba cited him as saying.
``This is a desperate operation by terrorist elements who are responding to successful government measures that have resulted in the elimination of terrorist groups,'' al-Qurbi said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Massoud A. Derhally in Amman, Jordan at [email protected]; Camilla Hall in London at [email protected].
Last Updated: September 17, 2008 11:22 EDT
By Massoud A. Derhally and Camilla Hall
Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Islamic terrorists targeted the U.S. Embassy in Yemen's capital, Sana'a, blowing up a car outside the entrance to the compound and killing 16 people in the second attack against the mission in six months.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters ``it is fair to say'' the assault ``bears all the hallmarks of an al-Qaeda attack.'' McCormack said he couldn't make any ``definitive judgments'' about the possible link because officials are still following up on suspicions about the perpetrators.
The death toll included six militants, four civilians and six Yemeni soldiers guarding the embassy, the state-run Saba news service said, citing the Interior Ministry. McCormack said all U.S. personnel are safe.
``Today's events demonstrate that terrorist criminals will not hesitate to kill innocent citizens and those charged with protecting them in pursuit of their agenda of terror,'' the embassy said in a statement. The mission is working with the Yemeni authorities ``to bring the perpetrators of this heinous terrorist crime to justice.''
A group by the name of Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened to carry out similar strikes in the Persian Gulf region if al-Qaeda prisoners aren't released by Yemen, the al-Arabiya news channel said. Osama bin Laden's family originally came from Yemen, and the country has served as a recruiting ground for al-Qaeda.
Explosions at Gate
The assault began at about 9:15 a.m. local time today, with ``a number of explosions'' at the building's main gate, the embassy said in its statement.
The fortified U.S. Embassy, located in the Dhahr Himyar area, lies about 250 meters (820 feet) from the entrance, where the attack took place. A fire was seen blazing from the compound and ambulances headed toward the area.
Of the six attackers killed, one was wearing a suicide belt, Saba said.
The attack involved a first car from which militants exchanged fire with embassy guards, using rocket-propelled grenades, and then a second bomb-laden car was blown up, Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based al-Arabiya said.
``I heard two loud explosions,'' Christy Quirk, 40, a consultant who was located two miles from the embassy in the lobby of the Burj al-Salam hotel in the old city, said in a phone interview.
`Violent Extremists'
``The U.S. condemns this attack,'' White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in a statement issued in Washington. ``This attack is a reminder of the continuing threat we face from violent extremists both at home and abroad.''
President George W. Bush was briefed early today on the incident, he said. The U.S. ``will continue to work with the government of Yemen to increase our counterterrorism activities to prevent more attacks from taking place,'' he added.
The State Department ordered the withdrawal of non- emergency staff and family members from the embassy in April following an attack on March 18 and an April 6 assault on the Hadda residential compound in Sana'a. The measure was lifted on Aug. 11 and the State Department recommended deferring non- essential travel to the country.
`Not a Surprise'
``This latest bombing is not a surprise,'' said Laura James, a Yemen analyst in London at the Economist Intelligence Unit. ``It will, however, be a disappointment to the Yemeni government, as it comes after a series of successes in the security forces' campaign to arrest local militants. As such, it may represent a counterattack by al-Qaeda-linked groups.''
In the March 18 incident, six children as well as Yemeni workers protecting the embassy were injured when a blast rocked a school close to the U.S. compound, Yemeni authorities said at the time.
Al-Qaeda terrorists attacked the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000, killing 17 sailors.
Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qurbi said the attack today was a response to government efforts to combat terrorism, Saba cited him as saying.
``This is a desperate operation by terrorist elements who are responding to successful government measures that have resulted in the elimination of terrorist groups,'' al-Qurbi said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Massoud A. Derhally in Amman, Jordan at [email protected]; Camilla Hall in London at [email protected].
Last Updated: September 17, 2008 11:22 EDT
