On 21 May 2012, at about 10 a.m. AST (UTC+03:00) a suicide attack was launched against Yemeni Army soldiers practicing for the annual Unity Day military parade in Sana'a, Yemen.[4] Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) affiliate Ansar al-Sharia.
| Unity Day parade rehearsal bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Yemeni Crisis and the al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen | |
 | |
| Location | Al-Sabeen Square, Sana'a, Yemen |
| Coordinates | 15°19′22″N 44°12′17″E / 15.32278°N 44.20472°E |
| Date | 21 May 2012 10:00 AST (UTC+03:00) |
| Target | Yemeni Army soldiers |
Attack type | Suicide bombing |
| Deaths | 101[1]-120+[2] |
| Injured | 220[1]-350[3] |
| Perpetrator |  Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
|
Background
editAmidst the chaos of the Yemeni Revolution the previous year, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula utilized its newly formed local affiliate group Ansar al-Sharia in order to seize several areas in the southern Shawbah and Abyan governorates and establish an Islamic emirate while the government and military was split across pro and anti-Saleh lines and was primarily concerned with maintaining control in Sana'a.[5][6] With the resignation of longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh in February 2012 and installment of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi political turmoil in the country began to stabilize, allowing the government and military to focus its attention on AQAP/Ansar al-Sharia.[3] Hadi pledged to liberate the southern governorates from Ansar al-Sharia control and voiced considerable support for U.S. counterterrorism operations.[7][8] On 11 May 2012, the Yemeni government announced a military offensive against Ansar al-Sharia to retake their territory in Abyan.[9]
Yemen's National Unity Day ceremony is carried out every year on 22 May since 1990 to mark the unification of North Yemen and South Yemen as the Republic of Yemen.[3]
Attack
editThe attack took place in al-Sabin Square, near Yemen's presidential palace, as soldiers were arranging themselves in a parade rehearsal for the upcoming Unity Day ceremonies.[10] According to Yemeni security officials, the bomber was a rogue soldier participating in the drill wearing a belt of explosives. Early reports suggested a few dozen casualties, but by the early afternoon the confirmed death toll was at 90, with at least 222 injured.[3] Security officials stated that the attacker had detonated his explosives shortly before Defence Minister Muhammad Nasir Ahmad Ali and the army chief-of-staff[who?] were expected to greet the troops.[3] The attack resulted in "horrific carnage", with one witness describing "arms and legs scattered on the ground ... The wounded people were piled on top of each other, covered with blood."[11] Another soldier who had been present for the attack called it a "massacre", stating "I have never seen such a bloody day in my life".[12] Al-Arabiya reported on 96 dead and over 300 injured in the blast.[9] Later in the day the casualty toll was raised yet again, this time to over 120 killed and nearly 350 injured, some of them critically.[2]
A doctor at a Sana'a hospital described the city's medical facilities as overwhelmed, and stated that the attack had left dozens paralyzed.[13] Most of the casualties appeared to be from the Central Security Organisation – a large paramilitary force commanded by Yahya Saleh, a nephew of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Within hours of the attack, Saleh was dismissed from his post by presidential decree.[3]
Perpetrators
editAl-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's-affiliate Ansar al-Sharia claimed responsibility for the attack a few hours after it had taken place. A spokesman for the group said it was in retaliation for injustices done by the CSO: "We will take revenge, God willing, and the flames of war will reach you everywhere, and what happened is but the start of a jihad project in defence of honour and sanctities." It also added that there would be more attacks if the government assault did not stop in Abyan.[14]
Reactions
editPresident Abdrabu Mansur Hadi stated that the attackers "wanted to turn the joy of our people with the unity day into sorrow ... and therefore, the war on terrorism will continue till it is uprooted and defeated completely whatever the sacrifices are". State-run Saba News Agency condemned the bombing as a terrorist attack, showing "a moral and religious perversion of the attackers and plotters".[12]
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack and called for those involved to be brought to justice. He also urged the people of Yemen to fully implement the negotiated political transition that had replaced the administration of President Saleh with that of Hadi following the 2011–2012 Yemeni revolution.[10]
The U.K. Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt strongly condemned the attack, calling it 'cowardly'. He added that "this tragic event underlines the scale of the security challenge facing the Yemeni government as it seeks to introduce key reforms and work towards completing political transition".[15] The White House issued a statement as well, condemning the bombing and offering to help Yemen with the investigation.[16] US President Barack Obama also expressed concerns that Yemen was becoming a "hub" for terrorism.[17] French President François Hollande described the attack as "barbaric".[13]
The Somali Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab congratulated Al-Qaeda on the successful attack through its official Twitter account.[18]
Aftermath
editThe Unity Day parade was held on schedule the following day, with President Hadi watching from behind a bulletproof barrier.[19] On 24 May, a suicide bomber killed 12 people when he drove his car into a crowd supporting Shi'ite rebels, who Al Qaeda considers "renegade Muslims". Another suicide bomber attempted to attack a protest on the same day, but his belt killed only himself.[20]
References
edit- ^ a b Yemen: Al Qaeda affiliate behind blast that killed 101 soldiers
- ^ a b "Death Toll Rises to over 120 after Yemen Parade Bombing". Yemen Post. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "'Al-Qaeda attack' on Yemen army parade causes carnage". BBC News. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ Almujahed, Ali; Raghavan, Sudarsan (21 May 2012). "Yemen bombing shows reach of al-Qaeda branch". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "Amid uprising, Yemen president quits after 33 years". NBC News. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ Abdul-Ahad, Ghaith (30 April 2012). "Al-Qaida's wretched utopia and the battle for hearts and minds". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Yemen's president Ali Abdullah Saleh cedes power". BBC News. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Al-Qaida-linked militants celebrate killing more than 100 Yemeni soldiers". NBC News. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Al-Qaeda claims bombing that killed nearly 100 Yemeni soldiers". Al Arabiya. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Al-Qaida Says Yemen Suicide Bombing Was 'Revenge'". Voice of America. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ Robert F. Worth and Eric Schmitt (21 May 2012). "Qaeda Link Seen in Deadly Blast in Yemen Capital". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ a b Mohammed Al Qadhi (21 May 2012). "Yemen president vows to fight terror after suicide attack". The National. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ^ a b "UN condemns suicide attack on Yemeni army parade". BBC News. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ "Al-Qaeda claims deadly Yemen suicide blast". Al Jazeera. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ^ "Foreign Office minister condemns 'cowardly' Yemen bombings". ITV. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ "US Condemns Yemen Bombing, Offers Help on Investigation". Yemen Post. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ "Obama says Yemen now a hub for foreign terrorists". Fox News Channel. Associated Press. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ Tristan McConnell (20 May 2012). "Yemen bomb: Somalia's rebels congratulate suicide bomber". Global Post. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ Adam Baron (22 May 2012). "After bombing, Yemen's Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi watches Unity Day ceremony from behind barrier". The Miami Herald. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ^ Ahmed Al-Haj (24 May 2012). "Security: Suicide attack kills 12 in east Yemen". The Kansas City Star. Associated Press. Retrieved 25 May 2012.