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| Yemen mosque bombings: 'Blood was running like a river', say survivors after attack kills 120 | |
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| Outside the mosques, those standing near the first blasts were killed instantly, their charred corpses barely recognisable. Inside was a glut of death and mutilated bodies. | Outside the mosques, those standing near the first blasts were killed instantly, their charred corpses barely recognisable. Inside was a glut of death and mutilated bodies. |
| Blood ran “like a river” among the dead and dying, said survivors. By last night more than 120 people had been declared dead and hundreds more critically wounded. The death toll, authorities said, was certain to rise. | Blood ran “like a river” among the dead and dying, said survivors. By last night more than 120 people had been declared dead and hundreds more critically wounded. The death toll, authorities said, was certain to rise. |
| At midday yesterday, many members of the Zaidi Shia sect had gone to pray in two mosques in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. Among them were many of Houthi militia that has seized power in Yemen. The white walls, low ceilings and crimson red carpets of the Badr and al-Hashoosh mosques were a scene of relative calm. Then four suicide bombers launched their attack. | At midday yesterday, many members of the Zaidi Shia sect had gone to pray in two mosques in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. Among them were many of Houthi militia that has seized power in Yemen. The white walls, low ceilings and crimson red carpets of the Badr and al-Hashoosh mosques were a scene of relative calm. Then four suicide bombers launched their attack. |
| In the hospitals of Sanaa the bodies lay in corridors last night – the dead next to the barely living. Among them were many children. After the blasts the wounded were loaded on the back of pick-up trucks, limbs missing, arms and legs entwined. Confirmed dead by Houthi-owned television and Al Jazeera included the imam of the Badr mosque, prominent Houthi cleric Al-Murtada bin Zayd al-Mahatwari. | In the hospitals of Sanaa the bodies lay in corridors last night – the dead next to the barely living. Among them were many children. After the blasts the wounded were loaded on the back of pick-up trucks, limbs missing, arms and legs entwined. Confirmed dead by Houthi-owned television and Al Jazeera included the imam of the Badr mosque, prominent Houthi cleric Al-Murtada bin Zayd al-Mahatwari. |
| Quick to claim credit for the attack was the claimed Yemeni branch of Isis, although analysts suggested that should be treated with scepticism. | Quick to claim credit for the attack was the claimed Yemeni branch of Isis, although analysts suggested that should be treated with scepticism. |
| Bodies are covered in blankets in the scene of devastation (AP) Two senior Houthi leaders, both members of the Zaidi Shia sect and named as Taha al-Mutawakkil and Khalid Madani, were reported to have been seriously wounded. “Dozens of people have been injured or killed. We will understand the exact numbers of [the] dead and wounded soon. These are two very central and commonly used mosques,” the editor-in-chief of the Yemen Post newspaper, Hakim Almasmari, told reporters. | |
| Each of the mosques appears to have been attacked by two suicide bombers. One bomber at the Badr mosque was caught by militia guards searching worshippers at the entrance, who detonated his device at the outside gates. Amid the ensuing panic, a second bomber entered the mosque detonating his device in the crowds, according to the official news agency SABA. | Each of the mosques appears to have been attacked by two suicide bombers. One bomber at the Badr mosque was caught by militia guards searching worshippers at the entrance, who detonated his device at the outside gates. Amid the ensuing panic, a second bomber entered the mosque detonating his device in the crowds, according to the official news agency SABA. |
| Another pair of suicide bombers attacked the al-Hashoosh mosque, according to the state news agency. “The heads, legs and arms of the dead people were scattered on the floor of the mosque,” Mohammed al-Ansi said. “Blood was running like a river.” He described running for the exit and hearing a man scream: “Come back, save the injured.” | Another pair of suicide bombers attacked the al-Hashoosh mosque, according to the state news agency. “The heads, legs and arms of the dead people were scattered on the floor of the mosque,” Mohammed al-Ansi said. “Blood was running like a river.” He described running for the exit and hearing a man scream: “Come back, save the injured.” |
| Another survivor from the Badr mosque, Ahmed al-Gabri, said: “I fell on the ground and when I regained conscious I found myself sleeping on a lake of blood.” | Another survivor from the Badr mosque, Ahmed al-Gabri, said: “I fell on the ground and when I regained conscious I found myself sleeping on a lake of blood.” |
| Screaming volunteers were using blankets to carry away victims. Another survivor from the Badr mosque attack, Sadek al-Harithi, described the scene to the Associated Press as “an earthquake where I felt the ground split and swallow everyone”. The Yemeni Houthi television channel Al-Masirah said blood donations were urgently needed. | Screaming volunteers were using blankets to carry away victims. Another survivor from the Badr mosque attack, Sadek al-Harithi, described the scene to the Associated Press as “an earthquake where I felt the ground split and swallow everyone”. The Yemeni Houthi television channel Al-Masirah said blood donations were urgently needed. |
| The Shia Houthis are sworn enemies of Yemen’s al-Qaeda branch, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, regarded by many to be the most dangerous and active al-Qaeda affiliate and a frequent trainer of jihadists from Europe. An al-Qaeda official denied being involved in the bombings, citing its historic refusal to target mosques. | The Shia Houthis are sworn enemies of Yemen’s al-Qaeda branch, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, regarded by many to be the most dangerous and active al-Qaeda affiliate and a frequent trainer of jihadists from Europe. An al-Qaeda official denied being involved in the bombings, citing its historic refusal to target mosques. |
| Claiming credit for the attack was a group, the hitherto little-known Yemeni branch of the Sunni Isis. Describing the bombings as a “blessed operation” against the “dens of the Shia” the group offered no proof it had carried out the attack, just as it had a day before after the attacks in Tunisia. | Claiming credit for the attack was a group, the hitherto little-known Yemeni branch of the Sunni Isis. Describing the bombings as a “blessed operation” against the “dens of the Shia” the group offered no proof it had carried out the attack, just as it had a day before after the attacks in Tunisia. |
| The Houthis have controlled Sanaa since September and have been locked in battle with al-Qaeda fighters in various parts of Yemen. They have forced President Abd-Rabbu Mounsour Hadi into exile. The UN-recognised President has set up a rival seat in Aden, in the south of the country, with the backing of Sunni-led Gulf Arab states. | |
| Adam Baron, a visiting fellow on the European Council on Foreign Relations, told The Independent last night: “This threatens to put Yemen on a whole new very disturbing level of sectarian violence. People used to look at Syria and think, ‘That could never be us’. Now they are looking at each other and saying, ‘What the hell?’” | Adam Baron, a visiting fellow on the European Council on Foreign Relations, told The Independent last night: “This threatens to put Yemen on a whole new very disturbing level of sectarian violence. People used to look at Syria and think, ‘That could never be us’. Now they are looking at each other and saying, ‘What the hell?’” |
| Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis political bureau, blamed al-Qaeda for the attack. Meanwhile, Mohamed Qubaty, a Yemeni political adviser, told Al Jazeera: “What we have seen today is a plot to widen the schism between the Sunnis and Zaidis.” | Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis political bureau, blamed al-Qaeda for the attack. Meanwhile, Mohamed Qubaty, a Yemeni political adviser, told Al Jazeera: “What we have seen today is a plot to widen the schism between the Sunnis and Zaidis.” |
| In Washington, the White House spokesman Josh Earnest said there was no indication Isis had any operational link to the bombings. He stressed that Isis often claims attacks purely for propaganda value. The Sanaa mosque attacks happened the day after an unidentified warplane attacked the presidential palace in Aden, while yesterday anti-aircraft guns opened fire as planes were again flying high over the presidential compound. | In Washington, the White House spokesman Josh Earnest said there was no indication Isis had any operational link to the bombings. He stressed that Isis often claims attacks purely for propaganda value. The Sanaa mosque attacks happened the day after an unidentified warplane attacked the presidential palace in Aden, while yesterday anti-aircraft guns opened fire as planes were again flying high over the presidential compound. |