Diplomat attacked in Yemen
Source: Agencies |
April 27, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE British ambassador to Yemen narrowly escaped what appeared to be a suicide attack on his armored car while traveling to work yesterday morning, Yemeni officials said.
British Embassy spokeswoman Chantel Mortimer said the ambassador, Timothy Torlot, was unhurt, but the attack underlined the precarious security in Yemen. Yemen has in recent years become a haven for al-Qaida militants taking advantage of the government's limited authority outside major cities.
The Yemeni officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the vehicle was passing through a poor neighborhood in the eastern part of San'a when an explosion went off nearby.
They said the attacker was wearing an explosives belt and was believed killed in the explosion.
There was no claim of responsibility for the attack, but it bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida. Witnesses said the attacker was a young man disguised in a school uniform.
The Foreign Office in London said the embassy has been closed to the public and warned all British nationals in Yemen to "keep a low profile and remain vigilant."
"We can confirm that there was an incident in San'a this morning. There was a small explosion beside the British Ambassador's car. He was unhurt. No other embassy staff or British nationals were injured," The Foreign Office said in a statement.
British Embassy spokeswoman Chantel Mortimer said the ambassador, Timothy Torlot, was unhurt, but the attack underlined the precarious security in Yemen. Yemen has in recent years become a haven for al-Qaida militants taking advantage of the government's limited authority outside major cities.
The Yemeni officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the vehicle was passing through a poor neighborhood in the eastern part of San'a when an explosion went off nearby.
They said the attacker was wearing an explosives belt and was believed killed in the explosion.
There was no claim of responsibility for the attack, but it bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida. Witnesses said the attacker was a young man disguised in a school uniform.
The Foreign Office in London said the embassy has been closed to the public and warned all British nationals in Yemen to "keep a low profile and remain vigilant."
"We can confirm that there was an incident in San'a this morning. There was a small explosion beside the British Ambassador's car. He was unhurt. No other embassy staff or British nationals were injured," The Foreign Office said in a statement.
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