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The attack took place in [[al-Sabin Square]], near Yemen's presidential palace, as soldiers were arranging themselves in a parade rehearsal for the upcoming Unity Day ceremonies.<ref name=VOA215>{{cite web |url=http://www.voanews.com/content/yemen-suicide-attack-revenge/913449.html |title=Al-Qaida Says Yemen Suicide Bombing Was 'Revenge' |date=21 May 2012 |work=Voice of America |accessdate=21 May 2012}}</ref> According to Yemeni security officials, the bomber was a soldier participating in the drill wearing a belt of explosives. Early reports suggested a few dozen casualties, but by the early afternoon the confirmed death toll was at 90, with at least 222 injured.<ref name=BBC215/> Security officials stated that the attacker had detonated his explosives shortly before Defence Minister [[Muhammad Nasir Ahmad Ali]] and the army chief-of-staff were expected to greet the troops.<ref name=BBC215/> The attack resulted in "horrific carnage", with one witness describing "arms and legs scattered on the ground ... The wounded people were piled on top of each other, covered with blood."<ref name=NYT215/> .<ref name=TN215/> Al-Arabiya reported on 96 dead and over 300 injured in the blast.<ref name=aa2105>[http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/05/21/215434.html]</ref> Later in the day the casualty toll was raised yet again, this time to over 120 killed and nearly 350 injured, some of them critically.<ref name=YP215/>
The attack took place in [[al-Sabin Square]], near Yemen's presidential palace, as soldiers were arranging themselves in a parade rehearsal for the upcoming Unity Day ceremonies.<ref name=VOA215>{{cite web |url=http://www.voanews.com/content/yemen-suicide-attack-revenge/913449.html |title=Al-Qaida Says Yemen Suicide Bombing Was 'Revenge' |date=21 May 2012 |work=Voice of America |accessdate=21 May 2012}}</ref> According to Yemeni security officials, the bomber was a soldier participating in the drill wearing a belt of explosives. Early reports suggested a few dozen casualties, but by the early afternoon the confirmed death toll was at 90, with at least 222 injured.<ref name=BBC215/> Security officials stated that the attacker had detonated his explosives shortly before Defence Minister [[Muhammad Nasir Ahmad Ali]] and the army chief-of-staff were expected to greet the troops.<ref name=BBC215/> The attack resulted in "horrific carnage", with one witness describing "arms and legs scattered on the ground ... The wounded people were piled on top of each other, covered with blood."<ref name=NYT215/> .<ref name=TN215/> Al-Arabiya reported on 96 dead and over 300 injured in the blast.<ref name=aa2105>[http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/05/21/215434.html]</ref> Later in the day the casualty toll was raised yet again, this time to over 120 killed and nearly 350 injured, some of them critically.<ref name=YP215/>


A doctor at a [[Sana'a]] hospital described the city's medical facilities as overwhelmed, and stated that the attack had left dozens paralyzed.<ref name=BBC2152/> Most of the casualties appeared to be from the Central Security Organisation – a large paramilitary force commanded by Yahya Saleh, a nephew of former [[President of Yemen|President]] [[Ali Abdullah Saleh]]. Within hours of the attack, Saleh was dismissed from his post by presidential decree.<ref name=BBC215/>
A doctor at a [[Sana'a]] hospital described the city's medical facilities as overwhelmed, and stated that the attack had left dozens paralyzed.<ref name=BBC2152/> Most of the casualties appeared to be from the Central Security Organisation – a large paramilitary force commanded by Yahya Saleh, a nephew of former [[President of Yemen|President]] [[Ali Abdullah Saleh]]. Within hours of the attack, Saleh was dismissed from his post by presidential decree.Hey tina "Was Taylor"<ref name=BBC215/>


== Perpetrators ==
== Perpetrators ==

Revision as of 16:52, 22 May 2012

2012 Sana'a bombing
Part of the Yemeni al-Qaeda crackdown
LocationSana'a, Yemen
DateMay 21, 2012 (2012-05-21)
09:00 AST (UTC+03:00)
TargetYemeni Army
Attack type
suicide bombing
Deaths101[1]-120+[2]
Injured220[1]-350[3]

The 2012 Sana'a bombing was a suicide attack on 21 May 2012, against soldiers practicing for the annual Unity Day military parade in Sana'a, Yemen. The ceremony is carried out every year on 22 May since 1990 to mark the unification of North and South Yemen as the Republic of Yemen.[3] With over 120 people dead, the attack was the deadliest in Yemeni history.[4]

Background

The suicide bombing came 10 days into a massive army offensive against al-Qaeda in Yemen’s restive southern Abyan province, where the jihadists have seized control of a string of towns and cities in attacks launched since May 2011.[5] According to witnesses and Yemeni officials, the Yemeni government had intensified its offensive against insurgents in southern Yemen in the week prior to the attack, with combined air and ground assaults leaving dozens of casualties, among them civilians.[6]

Attack

The attack took place in al-Sabin Square, near Yemen's presidential palace, as soldiers were arranging themselves in a parade rehearsal for the upcoming Unity Day ceremonies.[7] According to Yemeni security officials, the bomber was a soldier participating in the drill wearing a belt of explosives. Early reports suggested a few dozen casualties, but by the early afternoon the confirmed death toll was at 90, with at least 222 injured.[3] Security officials stated that the attacker had detonated his explosives shortly before Defence Minister Muhammad Nasir Ahmad Ali and the army chief-of-staff were expected to greet the troops.[3] The attack resulted in "horrific carnage", with one witness describing "arms and legs scattered on the ground ... The wounded people were piled on top of each other, covered with blood."[6] .[8] Al-Arabiya reported on 96 dead and over 300 injured in the blast.[5] Later in the day the casualty toll was raised yet again, this time to over 120 killed and nearly 350 injured, some of them critically.[2]

A doctor at a Sana'a hospital described the city's medical facilities as overwhelmed, and stated that the attack had left dozens paralyzed.[9] Most of the casualties appeared to be from the Central Security Organisation – a large paramilitary force commanded by Yahya Saleh, a nephew of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Within hours of the attack, Saleh was dismissed from his post by presidential decree.Hey tina "Was Taylor"[3]

Perpetrators

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attack a few hours after it had taken place. A spokesman for the group said it was in retaliation for injustices done by the CSO: "We will take revenge, God willing, and the flames of war will reach you everywhere, and what happened is but the start of a jihad project in defence of honour and sanctities."[10] A correspondent for Al Jazeera observed that since the attack had targeted soldiers rather than high-ranking officials, it appeared to be "a message to the authorities that they are willing and able to strike at the heart of the military and that nobody here is safe."[10]

Reactions

Yemen's state-run Saba News Agency condemned the bombing as a terrorist attack, showing "a moral and religious perversion of the attackers and plotters".[8] Yemeni president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi stated that the attackers "wanted to turn the joy of our people with the unity day into sorrow ... and therefore, the war on terrorism will continue till it is uprooted and defeated completely whatever the sacrifices are".[8]

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack and called for those involved to be brought to justice. He also urged the people of Yemen to fully implement the negotiated political transition that had replaced the administration of President Saleh with that of Hadi following the 2011–2012 Yemeni revolution.[7]

The U.K. Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt strongly condemned the attack, calling it 'cowardly'. He added that "this tragic event underlines the scale of the security challenge facing the Yemeni government as it seeks to introduce key reforms and work towards completing political transition".[11] The White House issued a statement as well, condemning the bombing and offering to help Yemen with the investigation.[12] US President Barack Obama also expressed concerns that Yemen was becoming a "hub" for terrorism.[13] French President François Hollande described the attack as "barbaric".[9]

The Somali Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab congratulated Al-Qaeda on the successful attack via its official Twitter account. The two organizations share close ties, and in February 2012 Al-Shabaab officially joined the international terror network.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b Yemen: Al Qaeda affiliate behind blast that killed 101 soldiers
  2. ^ a b "Death Toll Rises to over 120 after Yemen Parade Bombing". Yemen Post. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e "'Al-Qaeda attack' on Yemen army parade causes carnage". BBC News. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  4. ^ Jane Ferguson (21 May 2012). "In Yemen, a ruthlessly symbolic attack". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  5. ^ a b [1]
  6. ^ a b Worth, Robert and Alan Cowell, "Dozens Killed by Bomb in Yemen, Raising Al Qaeda Fears", The New York Times, 21 May 2012. Accessed 21 May 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Al-Qaida Says Yemen Suicide Bombing Was 'Revenge'". Voice of America. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  8. ^ a b c Mohammed Al Qadhi (21 May 2012). "Yemen president vows to fight terror after suicide attack". The National. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  9. ^ a b "UN condemns suicide attack on Yemeni army parade". BBC News. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Al-Qaeda claims deadly Yemen suicide blast". Al Jazeera. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Foreign Office minister condemns 'cowardly' Yemen bombings". ITV. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  12. ^ "US Condemns Yemen Bombing, Offers Help on Investigation". Yemen Post. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  13. ^ "Obama says Yemen now a hub for foreign terrorists". Fox News. Associated Press. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  14. ^ Tristan McConnell (20 May 2012). "Yemen bomb: Somalia's rebels congratulate suicide bomber". Global Post. Retrieved 21 May 2012.

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