Al-Qaeda attack Yemen motorcade, kills 13 but misses Defense Minister Nasser Ahmed
A powerful car bomb struck the Yemeni defense minister’s motorcade as he was driving through the nation’s capital Tuesday, killing at least 13 people but leaving the minister unharmed, security officials said.
Yemeni Prime Minister and cabinet members photo/http://www.yemen.gov.ye
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast but Al Qaeda’s Yemeni branch has carried out several failed assassination attempts against the minister, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Nasser Ahmed, in the past.
The attack comes one day after Yemeni authorities announced the death of the No. 2 leader of the network’s Yemeni branch in an apparent U.S. airstrike.
Nasser Ahmad escaped unharmed, but eight bodyguards and five civilians were killed, the PM’s office said.
Tuesday’s bombing hit the last vehicle in the minister’s three-car convoy as it was traveling through Sanaa’s al-Izaa neighborhood, Yemeni security officials said.
The blast left the car a charred hulk of twisted metal with burnt bodies strapped inside, and blew out the windows of storefronts and scorched a building nearby.
Pools of blood stained the pavement.
Below is the official statement by the Yemeni government:
Reconciliation and strongly condemned the assassination attempt criminal outrageous that targeted Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Mohammed Nasser Ahmed, detonated a car bomb as his motorcade passed in the street adjacent to the fence Sana’a Radio after his release from the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers this afternoon. considered a statement issued by the Government of National Reconciliation – received and Yemen News Agency (SABA) a copy of it – that such repeated attempts targeting someone brother and defense minister, comes after the successes successive achieved by the defense establishment and security in KD strongholds and hideouts of extremism and terrorism on the road to ridding our people from the evils, stressing that the use of these elements to such suicide reflects the state of despair and frustration, which was hit by the forces of evil and destruction, due to strikes successive and painful for the elements, thanks to the concerted all efforts popular and official to stabilize and build Yemen’s New. and unforgiving statement on behalf of the President and Cabinet members for the souls of all martyrs who fell in the This terrorist act treacherous and wished speedy recovery to the injured and wounded, حامدين God for the safety of the brother and defense minister, and their confidence that this incident and previous will Anala the resolve of this fighter National feat that gave himself to the service of his country and his nation. statement said that “such attempts sinful will TFT the sails and Defence Minister nor the Government of National Reconciliation, headed brother Mohammed Salem Basendwah which has taken upon itself to the brother of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi President take responsibility for the leadership of the nation in these difficult circumstances determination and resolve even directed home to safety, God willing. ” The statement called for the Commission Investigation problem of His Excellency the President to disclose the circumstances of this terrorist incident and access to criminals and terrorists who are behind this process and they are arrested and brought to justice, and that truncates them law, mercy to the people and compassionate nation, stressing the importance that possess everyone vigilant high to prevent a repeat such dastardly acts and cowardly and prevent risks to the nation and the people, calling on all Yemeni people in this difficult moment experienced by the nation to be one hand and one heart to ward off the danger homeland and work together to eradicate extremism and terrorism, and building Yemen new, according to the initiative Gulf and its mandate executive Chronic. statement concluded by stressing that the government of national reconciliation looks with confidence to be translated Yemenis of different positions and affiliations feelings sincere toward their country to real actions in cooperation with the security agencies in efforts to address the elements of extremism and terrorism which would protect our beloved homeland and save the march of national reconciliation in which , and fortified national choices that everyone agreed and formed a bulwark in the face of the conspirators and enemies of stability and development.
Peculiar article, exactly what I wanted to find.
Feel free to visit my site; Haarwuchs