Civilians were targets of bombing at Aden airport, security committee says
Civilians were the targets of a bombing that killed five people, including a child, in the Yemeni city of Aden, the country’s Supreme Security Committee has said.
Forty people were wounded in the terrorist attack, which occurred near the main gate of the city’s international airport on Saturday.
The committee, led by Aden Governor Ahmed Lamlas, has vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
“We assure all residents in Aden that all the state institutions are fully operating, including the airport, and we call upon them to practise their daily life normally,” it said.
Basam Al Muflehi, a representative of the Ministry of Transport, told The National that flights had not been affected by the blast.
No airport security staff were killed in the attack, said Capt Mutlaq Al Daghfali, liaison officer at the airport.
Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Saeed told the committee to investigate the attack and tighten security in the city to “foil any harm targeting Aden’s security and stability”, the state-owned Saba news agency reported yesterday.
The attack has been condemned by Dr Nayef Al Hajraf, Secretary General of the Gulf Co-operation Council, Saudi state media reported.
He said the GCC regarded terrorism as “incompatible with all religious principles and moral and humanitarian values” and offered condolences to the families of the victims.
No group has claimed responsibility for the blast, which was the deadliest terrorist attack in Yemen since December last year, when missiles hit Aden’s airport as members of the internationally recognised government arrived.
That attack killed 22 people and wounded more than 50.
Saturday’s blast damaged buildings near the airport, including offices, hotels, shops, pharmacies and houses.
“The explosion was tremendous,” said Aden resident Nafea Ahmed.
“It was much stronger than the explosions that rocked the airport in December last year.”
The EU’s mission to Yemen condemned the attack.
“The EU extends its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes those injured a speedy recovery,” it said.