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Yemeni authorities 'had been warned of attack on military target' Yemeni authorities 'had been warned of attack on military target'
(40 minutes later)
Yemeni authorities were warned of a possible attack on a military target three weeks before the suicide bombing that killed 96 people during a rehearsal for an armed forces parade on Monday, a defence official has revealed.Yemeni authorities were warned of a possible attack on a military target three weeks before the suicide bombing that killed 96 people during a rehearsal for an armed forces parade on Monday, a defence official has revealed.
According to the source, the ministry of the interior and officers from the national and political security services failed to completely secure the parade ground several days before the event – despite a clear warning that the military was being targeted by terrorists.According to the source, the ministry of the interior and officers from the national and political security services failed to completely secure the parade ground several days before the event – despite a clear warning that the military was being targeted by terrorists.
Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (Aqap) and its affiliate Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law) have both claimed responsibility for the attack, which left at least 220 people injured. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (Aqap) and its affiliate, Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law), have both claimed responsibility for the attack, which left at least 220 people injured.
"The ministry of the interior had information [20-25 days before the bombing] that indicated that terrorists had infiltrated the capital's security system and that they intended to attack the army," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "[But] there was not a comprehensive inspection of everyone coming in and out of the parade grounds.""The ministry of the interior had information [20-25 days before the bombing] that indicated that terrorists had infiltrated the capital's security system and that they intended to attack the army," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "[But] there was not a comprehensive inspection of everyone coming in and out of the parade grounds."
He said that threat warning was contained in a publicly available statement sent by the ministry of the interior to the political, national and security services as well as military intelligence and the police. He said that the threat warning was contained in a publicly available statement sent by the interior ministry to the political, national and security services as well as military intelligence and the police.
According to the source, intelligence agents gathered information for the ministry's warning through communication with informants in Ansar al-Sharia as well as security offices in Yemen's southern governorates.According to the source, intelligence agents gathered information for the ministry's warning through communication with informants in Ansar al-Sharia as well as security offices in Yemen's southern governorates.
The source also confirmed that the latest evidence suggested that the bomber – who detonated a belt estimated to weigh approximately 12kg – was a soldier from the central security forces.The source also confirmed that the latest evidence suggested that the bomber – who detonated a belt estimated to weigh approximately 12kg – was a soldier from the central security forces.
He said that soldiers who survived the attack remembered seeing the bomber enter the park beside the parade grounds, but had assumed he was one of their own because of his uniform.He said that soldiers who survived the attack remembered seeing the bomber enter the park beside the parade grounds, but had assumed he was one of their own because of his uniform.
Describing the security operation surrounding the National Day parade as "immensely insufficient", the source said that Yemenis were enduring "a period of unprecedented security breakdown".Describing the security operation surrounding the National Day parade as "immensely insufficient", the source said that Yemenis were enduring "a period of unprecedented security breakdown".
Militants have exploited political instability in Yemen to gain a foothold in a country debilitated for much of 2011 by protests which eventually unseated the president, Ali Abdullah Saleh. Militants have exploited political instability in Yemen to gain a foothold in a country debilitated for much of 2011 by protests, which eventually unseated the president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The country's newly installed president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, responded to the attack by firing two senior commanders, both allies of his predecessor. One of them, a nephew of Saleh's, was the head of national security, the elite intelligence gathering unit that works closely with the CIA. The country's newly installed president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, responded to the attack by firing two senior commanders, both allies of his predecessor. One of them, a nephew of Saleh's, was head of national security, the elite intelligence gathering unit that works closely with the CIA.
Hadi told victims' families on Monday that the fight against al-Qaida would carry on despite the bombing, adding: "The war on terrorism will continue until it is uprooted and annihilated completely, regardless of the sacrifices."Hadi told victims' families on Monday that the fight against al-Qaida would carry on despite the bombing, adding: "The war on terrorism will continue until it is uprooted and annihilated completely, regardless of the sacrifices."
According to the source, Hadi will embark on further changes to Yemen's military leadership within the next few weeks.According to the source, Hadi will embark on further changes to Yemen's military leadership within the next few weeks.
But he warned that removing veteran officers from their posts and replacing them with fresh faces would not ensure victory in the fight against militants.But he warned that removing veteran officers from their posts and replacing them with fresh faces would not ensure victory in the fight against militants.
"The changes that happened [on Monday] are not enough," he said. "And the security measures, in my view, could only solve 20% of the problem."The changes that happened [on Monday] are not enough," he said. "And the security measures, in my view, could only solve 20% of the problem.
"We have to see new officers who know the meaning of patriotism, who feel what the spilling of 100 innocent soldiers' blood means.""We have to see new officers who know the meaning of patriotism, who feel what the spilling of 100 innocent soldiers' blood means."