Gun battle 17 killed in Isil attack in Yemen

At least 17 people were killed after dozens of masked militants stormed a Yemeni government security compound yesterday, sparking a gun battle that continued into the night.

The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isil) terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, which began when a car laden with explosives was detonated outside a building housing a police investigations unit in the governmentheld city of Aden early yesterday morning.

About 30 gunmen then stormed into the unit and set free dozens of detainees, some of whom took up arms with their liberators, the Yemeni authorities said.

There were reports that the militants had taken an unknown number of people hostage yesterday afternoon.

Yemeni authorities said at least 17 people had been killed by the evening.

In its statement of responsibility, issued late yesterday, Isil said clashes were “still ongoing”.

The civil war in Yemen broke out in March 2015.