SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Al-Qaida’s branch in Yemen has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing in the capital at a military parade rehearsal which killed nearly 100 soldiers and injured at least 200.
The militant group said in an emailed statement Monday that one of its “holy warriors” carried the suicide attack and that it targeted the minister of defense who was attending the rehearsal. It says the attack is meant to take revenge for the military offensive against al-Qaida in southern Yemen.
The group known as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula vowed, “This is only the beginning of Jihad,” and said that its militants will continue waging attacks against the Yemeni leadership.
Monday’s bombing took place when a suicide bomber dressed in military uniform blew himself up among parading soldiers.
