Attack on US Embassy
(Sanaa, Yemen) A group called Islamic Jihad in Yemen has taken responsibility for a powerful car bomb exploding about 2:15 AM ET outside the gate of the U.S. Embassy in the capital of Sanaa. Multiple casualties have been reported.
Two cars were involved with the attack, Yemeni officials said. The first contained people in police uniforms who exchanged fire with Yemeni security forces, the officials said.The second car exploded after it passed an outermost gate to the Embassy but before it reached a second protective barrier, the officials said.
Notably, Yemen is the ancestral home of Osama bin Laden and the U.S. Embassy has previously been targeted for attacks.
Update 16 dead including 6 attackers, no US injuries.
US embassy in Yemen: First gunfire, then explosions may be car bombs or mortar attacks.
Yemeni embassy in US: two cars packed with explosives, and one of the dead attackers wearing suicide vest.
Update 2: Car bomb, 20 minute firefight, more explosions
Yemen Observer: Attempt by terrorists to break into the American embassy was foiled. The incident happened at nine o’clock am Wednesday when an explosive-laden car exploded 100 meter from the American Embassy Premises. A few seconds later, a firefight broke out between security officers and terrorists using machine guns, RPGs and hand grenades. The battle with the terrorists resulted in the death of six police officers who were defending the American Embassy and the injury of a number of officers some of whom are in critical conditions, said security sources. Four other civilian guards of the Embassy were killed in the attack. The 20-minute battle with the terrorists resulted in the death of all terrorists that were around six including the suicide bomber.
Almotamar.net - Eyewitnesses said Wednesday morning that a car bomb exploded nearby the American embassy building in Sana’a before resounding of several consecutive explosions were heard and followed with eruption of fire near the gate of the embassy building. While information is not officially confirmed eyewitnesses told almotamar.net correspondent that an exchange of gunfire happened after the exp0losion.
The last time we heard from Yemeni Islamic Jihad was last month when they claimed credit for a suicide car bombing in Hadramout, and threatened a future attack in the capital.
Prior Suicide Car Bombings, Yemen
September 2006 synchronized attacks on oil facilities in Marib and Hadramout
July 2007 car bombing at tourist facility in Marib killed eight Spanish tourists
July 2008 car bombing a police station in Sayoun Hadrmaout, one killed and 18 wounded
Early in 2008, mortar attacks were launched in Sana’a against western targets including the US embassy, Italian embassy and a western housing complex. After the July 2008 suicide bombing killed one policeman and injured 18 in Sayoun in the southeastern province of Hadramout, authorities rounded up over fifty suspected militants including AAIA leader Khalid Abdul Nabi and Saudi Muhammad bin Nayif al-Qahtani. After the arrests, Yemen announced that it had thwarted an attack in Saudi Arabia targeting oil industries. For history and analysis of al-Qaeda in Yemen, check my al-Qaeda category.
