This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/11/yemeni-security-us-embassy-killed
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Yemeni security official for US embassy killed in drive-by shooting | Yemeni security official for US embassy killed in drive-by shooting |
| (7 days later) | |
| A masked gunman assassinated a Yemeni security official who worked for the US embassy in a drive-by shooting near his home in the capital Sana'a on Thursday, officials said. | A masked gunman assassinated a Yemeni security official who worked for the US embassy in a drive-by shooting near his home in the capital Sana'a on Thursday, officials said. |
| Yemeni officials said the killing bore the hallmarks of an attack by the al-Qaida offshoot in Yemen, but it was too early to determine whether the group was behind it. The assassination resembles other attacks recently that have targeted Yemeni intelligence, military and security officials. Those attacks are believed to be in retaliation for a military offensive by Yemen's US-backed government against Yemen-based Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which Washington considers the most dangerous offshoot of the global terror network. | Yemeni officials said the killing bore the hallmarks of an attack by the al-Qaida offshoot in Yemen, but it was too early to determine whether the group was behind it. The assassination resembles other attacks recently that have targeted Yemeni intelligence, military and security officials. Those attacks are believed to be in retaliation for a military offensive by Yemen's US-backed government against Yemen-based Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which Washington considers the most dangerous offshoot of the global terror network. |
| AQAP has called for attacks on US embassies in a bid to exploit the anti-American sentiment that has swept the Middle East and other parts of the Muslim world in the past month over an anti-Islam film produced in the United States. | AQAP has called for attacks on US embassies in a bid to exploit the anti-American sentiment that has swept the Middle East and other parts of the Muslim world in the past month over an anti-Islam film produced in the United States. |
| Initially, the film was linked to an attack on the US consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi on September 11 which left four Americans dead including US ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens. US officials said later the attack was not linked to the video. | Initially, the film was linked to an attack on the US consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi on September 11 which left four Americans dead including US ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens. US officials said later the attack was not linked to the video. |
| AQAP praised the killing of US diplomats in Libya, describing it as "the best example" for those attacking embassies to follow. | AQAP praised the killing of US diplomats in Libya, describing it as "the best example" for those attacking embassies to follow. |
| Yemeni officials identified the embassy security official as Qassem Aqlani, in his fifties. He was on his way to work when a gunman on a motorcycle opened fire at him and fled the scene. The attack was in western Sana'a, close to Aqlani's home, while the embassy is located in eastern Sana'a. | Yemeni officials identified the embassy security official as Qassem Aqlani, in his fifties. He was on his way to work when a gunman on a motorcycle opened fire at him and fled the scene. The attack was in western Sana'a, close to Aqlani's home, while the embassy is located in eastern Sana'a. |
| Aqlani had been working for the US embassy for nearly 20 years, said the officials who spoke condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Most recently, he was in charge of investigating a 12 September assault on the US embassy by angry Yemeni protesters over the anti-Islam film. Protesters stormed the embassy and set fire to a US flag before government forces dispersed them with tear gas. That attack came one day after the killings of the Americans in Benghazi. | Aqlani had been working for the US embassy for nearly 20 years, said the officials who spoke condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Most recently, he was in charge of investigating a 12 September assault on the US embassy by angry Yemeni protesters over the anti-Islam film. Protesters stormed the embassy and set fire to a US flag before government forces dispersed them with tear gas. That attack came one day after the killings of the Americans in Benghazi. |
| AQAP had taken advantage of a security and political vacuum created by last year Arab Spring-inspired uprising and seized territories and cities in the south. The government-led offensive has pushed the militants out to mountainous areas from where they have been staging suicide attacks and assassinations inside cities. | AQAP had taken advantage of a security and political vacuum created by last year Arab Spring-inspired uprising and seized territories and cities in the south. The government-led offensive has pushed the militants out to mountainous areas from where they have been staging suicide attacks and assassinations inside cities. |
| Two weeks ago, a top intelligence official, Colonel Abdullah al-Ashwal, was also killed in a drive-by shooting in Sana'a. | Two weeks ago, a top intelligence official, Colonel Abdullah al-Ashwal, was also killed in a drive-by shooting in Sana'a. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |