Two car bombs targeting the US Embassy in Sanaa killed 16 people on 17 September. The attack, which was later claimed by Islamic Jihad in Yemen, was the first successful attack in the city since April this year when the al-Qaeda Organisation in the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen Soldiers Brigades, fired mortars towards a customs authority office and the Italian embassy. The recent attack underscores the continuing high threat from terrorism in Yemen and has serious implications for persons wishing to conduct business or visit the country. The attack was very well planned and executed and while the attackers did not penetrate the heavily fortified perimeter, the mere presence of a large number of al-Qaeda militants in the capital without the local security forces having issued a warning is a major concern and raises questions about the Yemeni intelligence services ability to track the large number of Islamist militants in the country. The al-Qaeda inspired militants have issued a number of threats this year already and carried out a number of attacks. A few of the most major recent developments include:
- On 17 September, Islamic Jihad claims the US Embassy bombings and threatens further attacks against the UAE, Saudi and British Embassies in Sanaa.
- On 16 September, Islamic Jihad reportedly threatens to carry out attacks against targets in Yemen.
- On 19 August, the al-Qaeda group in Yemen issued a statement on a website confirming the death of al-Qa’iti and threatening reprisal attacks.
- On 11 August, Yemeni security forces raided a house in Tarim, Hadramawt governorate. At least five al-Qaeda linked militants were killed including the alleged leader of the group, Hamza al-Qa’iti. A number of Yemeni security force personnel were also among the casualties.
- On 5 August, al-Qaeda in Yemen threatened to carry out larger scale attacks in the country if militants arrested by the authorities, in connection with the 25 July suicide attack, were not released.
- On 15 June, security forces arrested two suspects accused of planting bombs in government buildings in Sanaa governorate.
- On 29 May, Yemeni authorities arrested an eleven-man terror cell in Sanaa. The suspected al-Qaeda linked cell were nationals of Chad and Saudi Arabia. The police action was followed by two security incidents on 30 May that may have been related to the capture of the al-Qaeda suspects.
- On 12 May, reports indicate that AQ in Saudi have ordered their operatives to relocate to Yemen.
- On 30 April, two bombs exploded on the premises of a customs office, near the Italian embassy in the Safia Janubiah area of Sanaa. There were no injuries or damages. Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen Soldiers Brigades, claimed responsibility for the attack.
- On 10 April, two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were located in the vicinity of the west wall of the Hadda residential compound in Sanaa.
- On 9 April, a bomb exploded in the al-Hadda neighbourhood of Sanaa near the offices of Canadian oil company Nexen. There were no casualties or damage.
- On 6 April, militants belonging to al-Qaeda fired three mortars/rockets into the Kuwait housing complex in the al-Hadda neighbourhood of south western Sanaa. There were no reports of injuries or damages. The complex houses foreign workers and the offices of the Yemen-owned Safer oil company, formerly known as Hunt Oil.
- On 18 March, unknown individuals fired three mortar rounds towards the US embassy in the Sawan district of Sanaa. Two people died, including a security official guarding the embassy. The mortars landed short of the embassy in a nearby school. The Yemen government have blamed al-Qaeda for the attack.
- On 2 February, an assailant threw a grenade at a group of students in a restaurant near the University of Sanaa. The attack left two people dead and 25 injured. The perpetrator has been identified as Mohammed Hassan al-Wajih. The motive for the attack remains unclear; however, authorities believe it may have involved a family dispute.
For a video of the incident, please click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2G6ogHD1iM
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