Yemen Observer: http://www.yobserver.com
Posted in:
Front Page
Written By: Mohammed al-Kibsi
Article Date: Sep 23, 2008 - 2:39:06 AM
The security authorities arrested six members of a cell that claimed responsibility for launching the attack against the US Embassy in Sana'a that killed 19 people last Wednesday, said a security source.
The source said that the group of six members headed by the so called Abu al-Ghaith al-Yamany that called itself the Islamic Jihad organization in Yemen was arrested.
The source added that the six were detained for threatening to target other foreign embassies including the Saudi, Emirates, Dutch, and British embassies.
Abu al-Ghaith al-Yamani was believed to have contributed to the Islamic Jihad group's statements and was thought to be its leader.
The Islamic Jihad group had said it was behind Wednesday's twin car bombings of the U.S. embassy but the authenticity of the statement, which bore no seal, could not be independently verified.
The group had said it belonged to al-Qaeda and threatened to attack the British and Saudi embassies and assassinate high state officials unless the government freed its jailed members.
"This cell was involved in releasing statements on the internet in the name of Islamic Jihad ... and threatening to target embassies including those of Saudi Arabia, Britain, United Arab Emirates and Netherlands," said the security source at the Ministry of Interior.
The security source also said that large numbers of suspected terrorists involved in the attack were captured and being investigated.
Meanwhile two men, including a police officer died last Sunday, bringing the death toll up to 18, officials said. Sixteen people including six suspected al-Qaeda attackers were killed at the scene of the attack on the embassy compound, in which two car bombs and automatic weapons were used. The attackers were unable to penetrate the embassy wall and no US diplomats or employees were harmed.
The US Ambassador to Yemen Stephen A. Seche expressed his deep condolences to the families of the victims that were killed in the attack.
Yemeni and US officials have blamed the terrorist network al-Qaeda for the attack. "This attack carries the hallmarks and style of an al-Qaeda operation," said Sean McCormack, spokesperson of the US Department of State.
On the same context, the BBC reported the British Embassy closed down until further notice. The Yemen Observer tried to contact the British Embassy officials but could not reach any of them. The security authorities that deployed more forces to guard all Embassies, foreign companies have adopted firm measures and governmental premises since the attack against the US Embassy last Wednesday.
The Yemeni American Language Institute YALI has been adopting firm security measures including preventing students from bringing their cell phones or even mp3s into the institute. YALI also instructed students to come early so as to avoid long queues due to searching process and warned students to not leave their bags otherwise they will be removed. YALI also urged students to report any suspecting security issues or rumors.
The attack against the US Embassy last Wednesday, was the deadliest against US interests in Yemen since the October 2000 bombing of the warship USS Cole in the southern Yemen port of Aden, which left 17 sailors dead and 32 wounded.
More recently, a mortar was fired on March 18 against the US embassy in Sana'a, in which three police officers and four girls in a neighboring school were wounded.
On April 6, a similar attack targeted a residential compound housing US and Western citizens. No one was hurt in that incident.
Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for both attacks.
After the September 11, 2001, attacks on US cities, Yemen allied itself with the US-led "war on terror" and pursued suspected members of al-Qaeda, putting scores of them on trial.