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Yemen Suicide Attack: Scores Killed As Bomber Targets Military Parade

The Huffington Post UK  |  By Posted: Updated: 21/05/2012 15:23

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At least 90 soldiers have been killed and dozens more injured after a suicide bomber "dressed as a soldier" attacked a military parade in Yemen.

The attacker blew himself up during a drill in al-Sabin Square in the capital city of Sanaa, not far from the Presidential Palace – and just minutes before the defence minister Mohammed Nasser Ahmed and chief of staff arrived to inspect the troops.

Both managed to escape unharmed.

yemen suicide

A Yemeni military policeman shows his bloodied gloves at the site of the bomb attack

The BBC said it was contacted by a member of al-Qaeda, who claimed responsibility for the attack - the deadliest to strike the city since February.

AFP and Al Jazeera put the death toll at 96, with 300 wounded and said that seven different hospitals were treating those affected.

The bomber was taking part in the parade, according to one report, and he left behind a scene of absolute carnage, with body parts scattered across the square.

Col Amin al-Alghabati told the Reuters news agency: "We were in a parade, suddenly there was a huge explosion. Dozens of our men were killed. We tried to help them.

yemen suicide attack 2

Soldiers scatter after the explosion, which left scores dead and up to 300 wounded

"The suicide bomber was dressed in a military uniform. He had a belt of explosives underneath.”

The explosion was heard across the city causing panic among residents.

Al-Qaeda militants have been growing in influence in the south and east of the country, but newly-elected President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi has vowed to tackle them.

yemen suicide attack

Forensic policemen collect evidence at the site of the blast

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  • A Yemeni military policeman shows his bloodied gloves as he and colleagues collect evidence at the site of a suicide bomb attack in Sanaa on May 21, 2012. A Yemeni soldier packing powerful explosives under his uniform blew himself up in the middle of an army battalion the Yemeni capital, killing 96 troops and wounding around 300, a military official and medics said. AFP PHOTO/ MOHAMMED HUWAISMOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/GettyImages

  • A Yemeni military policeman shows his bloodied gloves as he and colleagues collect evidence at the site of a suicide bomb attack in Sanaa on May 21, 2012. A Yemeni soldier packing powerful explosives under his uniform blew himself up in the middle of an army battalion the Yemeni capital, killing 96 troops and wounding around 300, a military official and medics said. AFP PHOTO/ MOHAMMED HUWAISMOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/GettyImages

  • A solider is treated at a hospital in Sanaa after he was injured when a Yemeni soldier packing powerful explosives under his uniform blew himself up in the middle of an army battalion in Sanaa on May 21, 2012, killing 96 troops and wounding around 300, a military official and medics said. The suicide attack was the deadliest in the country's capital since newly-elected President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi pledged to oust Al-Qaeda militants from Yemen's mostly lawless and restive southern and eastern provinces. AFP PHOTO/ MOHAMMED HUWAISMOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/GettyImages

  • A solider is treated at a hospital in Sanaa after he was injured when a Yemeni soldier packing powerful explosives under his uniform blew himself up in the middle of an army battalion in Sanaa on May 21, 2012, killing 96 troops and wounding around 300, a military official and medics said. The suicide attack was the deadliest in the country's capital since newly-elected President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi pledged to oust Al-Qaeda militants from Yemen's mostly lawless and restive southern and eastern provinces. AFP PHOTO/ MOHAMMED HUWAISMOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/GettyImages

  • A Yemeni military policeman shows his bloodied gloves as he and colleagues collect evidence at the site of a suicide bomb attack in Sanaa on May 21, 2012. A Yemeni soldier packing powerful explosives under his uniform blew himself up in the middle of an army battalion the Yemeni capital, killing 96 troops and wounding around 300, a military official and medics said. AFP PHOTO/ MOHAMMED HUWAISMOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/GettyImages

  • A Yemeni military policeman shows his bloodied gloves as he and colleagues collect evidence at the site of a suicide bomb attack in Sanaa on May 21, 2012. A Yemeni soldier packing powerful explosives under his uniform blew himself up in the middle of an army battalion the Yemeni capital, killing 96 troops and wounding around 300, a military official and medics said. AFP PHOTO/ MOHAMMED HUWAISMOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/GettyImages

  • A solider is treated at a hospital in Sanaa after he was injured when a Yemeni soldier packing powerful explosives under his uniform blew himself up in the middle of an army battalion in Sanaa on May 21, 2012, killing 96 troops and wounding around 300, a military official and medics said. The suicide attack was the deadliest in the country's capital since newly-elected President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi pledged to oust Al-Qaeda militants from Yemen's mostly lawless and restive southern and eastern provinces. AFP PHOTO/ MOHAMMED HUWAISMOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/GettyImages
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At least 90 soldiers have been killed and dozens more injured after a suicide bomber "dressed as a soldier" attacked a military parade in Yemen. The attacker blew himself up during a drill in al-Sa...
At least 90 soldiers have been killed and dozens more injured after a suicide bomber "dressed as a soldier" attacked a military parade in Yemen. The attacker blew himself up during a drill in al-Sa...
 
 
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mnementh
81 Fans
01:05 AM on 05/22/2012
there goes my planned fishing trip
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mnementh
81 Fans
12:39 AM on 05/22/2012
Any "war" of the type being fought in the Middle East is always going to end in an ignoble defeat for the troops that are sent in by Western Governments.

One of the biggest problems is telling one side from the other. It's an old one, but, sometimes "they all look the same" is true and it becomes very difficult to tell the difference between the fighters and civilians.

This was discovered in the time of Gordon at Khartoum during the Muslim Uprising led by the Mahdi, Muhammad Ahmed, by T E Lawrence during the Arab Revolt against the Otterman Empire right up to the French and Americans in Vietnam.

If your enemy does not fight by "the rules of engagement" you have very little chance of winning and maintaining a lasting peace.
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waddytog
97 Fans
11:01 PM on 05/21/2012
no one does killing like these sandy clime countries, makes britain look like toytown.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Peter Leary
So long and thanks for all the fish.
445 Fans
11:12 PM on 05/21/2012
Britain is Toytown, but Mr. Plod's gone postal.
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eric14
1215 Fans
 
10:19 PM on 05/21/2012
Drones versus suicide bombers. For what?
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angel 11
12 Fans
10:16 PM on 05/21/2012
Cowards .stupid people stupid cowards .
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Galician
Keep calm and carry on
332 Fans
 
08:52 PM on 05/21/2012
This non stop massacre is awful!!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Fitzy1
I'm right, you're wrong
16 Fans
07:58 PM on 05/21/2012
I thought al-Qaeda were pro muslim? I wish they'd make up their minds as to who they hate!
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talha54
0 Fans
10:28 PM on 05/21/2012
They never have been pro muslim, set up by foreign funds, led by saudi's whom we supported their hostile takeover of the region. The vast majority of muslims are just people. Like us, who are ordinary folk who's views are not a drop in the ocean for politicians. Everyone knows the taliban will do the bidding of the highest donor. Just sad that normal people suffer for a problem created by the political elite
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xrahul2295x
28 Fans
11:17 PM on 05/21/2012
the masjority of muslims do not carry out these cowardice crimes but surely do finanace them and even so support them
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
wendle
23 Fans
08:45 AM on 05/22/2012
They do not need to be pro anything they just like killing each other, there will always be killings of this kind in these Arab countries. Very much like Catholic and Prodestants faith do you not think at least the Arabs have the excuse of being a few hundred years behind still living in the past, civilization means nothing to them.
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karen1963yorks
My micro bio was empty. Good.
333 Fans
07:36 PM on 05/21/2012
Remember Islam is "The religion of Peace"
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talha54
0 Fans
10:23 PM on 05/21/2012
Are you just plain ignorant? More muslims have lost their lives and livelyhood due to the taliban than we have. The people killed were muslim too. You didn't think of that when you made your jibe?
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karen1963yorks
My micro bio was empty. Good.
333 Fans
10:45 PM on 05/21/2012
I know a genius like you has thought of this already but maybe the many victims of the Taliban being Muslim is something to do with Where the Taliban live and where their victims live. Did you expect them to be Methodists or Swiss?
If my jibe upset you so much then the thousands of victims of Islam must really be breaking your heart.
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xrahul2295x
28 Fans
11:18 PM on 05/21/2012
what a joke- religion of pure selfishness- use the name of god to get whatever you want
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Peter Leary
So long and thanks for all the fish.
445 Fans
03:17 PM on 05/21/2012
A tragic loss of life yes. But there is a war in Yemen between Al Qaeda and the Yemeni military, a conventional war that goes on every day and has been for many months. If a UK or US squaddie had wiped out 90 'insurgents' or 'terrorists' on his own, he would no doubt be feted as a hero. Should we be outraged by this event? Yes of course... as we should be by every act of war.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Hugh Albert
Moderation in somethings
70 Fans
03:50 PM on 05/21/2012
There can be no 'conventional' war between Al Qaeda and anyone else because AQ is not a state, has no army, abides by no known protocols and answers to no recognised authority.
Likewise this not a war, where the Geneva Conventions, or their regional equivalent, would apply. It is a terrorist campaign, and it must be seen as just that!
As for your mythical squaddie, I would put a bet on that before he slotted home his next magazine some do gooder would be screaming "Genocide!"
You actually got two observations right,
It was a tragic loss of life
We should be outraged.
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probableclean77
54 Fans
04:37 PM on 05/21/2012
Brilliantly put Hugh Albert good on you!! I've been arguing along similar lines for some years now, in fact every time a "Squaddie" is indicted in a theatre(sic) of war for 'war crimes.. for is exactly that war is "criminal"...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Peter Leary
So long and thanks for all the fish.
445 Fans
04:39 PM on 05/21/2012
Wake up man... the Geneva Convention? You'll be quoting the Marquis of Queensbury next... A conventional war is one fought by men on the ground with guns, end of. War's aren't games played by rules and if you think we (the 'good guys' lol) play fair then you're dreaming. Do you honestly think the West, with trillions of dollars to spend on armaments and technology, is playing 'fair' when we occupy and terrorise a third world country? We condemn suicide bombers and IEDs whilst happily deploying drones, gunships, smart missiles, bunker-busters and air strikes without a thought of the cost either in terms of finance or loss of innocent life. Al Qaeda is teaching US what war really means, just as the Vietcong taught the Americans. A war is there to be fought and won by whatever means are available... the 'rules' and 'protocols' you naively hold on to were our idea, not theirs...
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probableclean77
54 Fans
04:38 PM on 05/21/2012
PL this is no conventional war I'm afraid, and the normal(sic) conventions do not in any way apply. Sadly it is in effect a 'civil war'(sic) which are always the nastiest, bloodiest, cruellest of things..
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Peter Leary
So long and thanks for all the fish.
445 Fans
05:08 PM on 05/21/2012
Very well... I retract my statement about conventional war. There is no such thing of course. Wars will be fought by any means possible and the less one side has to spend, the more resourceful they will become. Some will read 'resourceful' as savage, unprincipled, 'unfair'... so be it... those observers' obvious conditioning as to the meaning of right and wrong is their problem.
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