Islamic State bomber kills 25 at Sanaa mosque
SANAA, Yemen — A suicide bomber struck a mosque in Yemen’s rebelheld capital on Thursday, killing 25 worshipers during prayers for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The Yemenbased Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility for the blast, saying it was targeting the country’s Shiite rebels.
The explosion, which also wounded dozens of worshipers, tore through the al-Bolayli mosque in the morning hours, according to Yemeni security officials. The mosque is located in an area where many residents support the Shiite rebels, also known as Houthis, who have controlled Sanaa since last September.
The Islamic State affiliate’s claim of responsibility came in a statement circulated on Twitter by the Sunni militant group’s supporters. The statement said Islamic State targeted the Shiite rebels, whom the Sunni extremists view as here the tics.
The security officials said the suicide bomber placed an explosive device in his shoe, causing an initial explosion. As worshipers rushed to the door, he detonated himself in the middle of the crowd, they said. The officials, who remain neutral in the conflict that has splintered the country, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
There were puddles of blood and debris outside mosque, whose ornate facade was damaged by the blast. Police and some Houthi fighters came to inspect the aftermath. Eid al-Adha is a major Muslim holiday, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice.
Yemen has been torn by a ferocious war pitting the Houthis and forces fighting for former President Ali Abdullah Saleh against fighters loyal to President Abed Rabu Mansour Hadi, as well as southern separatists, local militias and Sunni extremists.