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Yemen funeral hall attack 'kills 82' | Yemen funeral hall attack 'kills 82' |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 82 people have been killed and more than 500 injured in a strike on a funeral gathering in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, rebel officials say. | At least 82 people have been killed and more than 500 injured in a strike on a funeral gathering in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, rebel officials say. |
The Houthi-run government said the hall had been hit by an air strike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally-recognised government of Yemen. | The Houthi-run government said the hall had been hit by an air strike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally-recognised government of Yemen. |
The coalition has denied carrying out a strike, suggesting "other causes". | The coalition has denied carrying out a strike, suggesting "other causes". |
Thousands of civilians have been killed since the war began in 2014. | |
The attack targeted the funeral of the father of Houthi-appointed Interior Minister Galal al-Rawishan, an ally of the rebels and of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. | |
One rescuer, Murad Tawfiq, described the scene as a "lake of blood", the Associated Press news agency reports. | One rescuer, Murad Tawfiq, described the scene as a "lake of blood", the Associated Press news agency reports. |
Graphic photos circulating on social media show charred and mutilated bodies. | Graphic photos circulating on social media show charred and mutilated bodies. |
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had prepared 300 body bags. | |
The ICRC's Rima Kamal told the BBC "several air strikes" had hit the venue where hundreds of civilians had been present. | |
The damage to the buildings was extensive. | |
A number of Houthi rebel military and security officials are believed to have been killed in the strike. | A number of Houthi rebel military and security officials are believed to have been killed in the strike. |
BBC correspondents say their presence could explain why the funeral was targeted, though it is likely many civilians were also there. | |
The government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi is fighting both the Houthis and forces loyal to Mr Saleh. | The government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi is fighting both the Houthis and forces loyal to Mr Saleh. |
Thousand of civilians have been killed since the Saudi-led air campaign started last March, the UN's rights body says. | Thousand of civilians have been killed since the Saudi-led air campaign started last March, the UN's rights body says. |
Nearly three million people have been displaced in Yemen, one of the region's poorest countries, since the war began in 2014. | Nearly three million people have been displaced in Yemen, one of the region's poorest countries, since the war began in 2014. |
The Houthis took the capital then, forcing Mr Hadi's government to flee. Some ministers have since returned to the city of Aden. | The Houthis took the capital then, forcing Mr Hadi's government to flee. Some ministers have since returned to the city of Aden. |