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IS Kills 10 in Yemen Mosque

IS Kills 10 in Yemen Mosque
IS Kills 10 in Yemen Mosque

At least 10 Muslim worshippers performing Eid al-Adha prayers were killed on Thursday when an Islamic State suicide bomber disguised as a woman blew himself up at a mosque, security sources said.

The IS branch in Yemen said the attack at Al-Balili Mosque, just outside the Old City of Sana’a, had killed or wounded dozens of “rejectionists”. The militant group uses that term to describe Shia Muslims it deems to be heretics, Reuters reported.

“In a security operation facilitated by God as part of the acts of revenge for Muslims from the rejectionist Houthis, brother Abu Omar al-Hadidi waded into a crowd of apostate Houthis at al-Balili temple, detonated his suicide belt causing dozens to perish or to be injured...,” the statement said.

Medics said at least 36 other people were wounded. A Houthi website gave a death toll of at least 10, while Arab media said it was at least 25.

Witnesses had earlier described a twin suicide attack on the mosque, where worshippers were celebrating Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice.

Nayef, who lives nearby, said he heard one explosion followed quickly by a second. “We gathered to rescue the wounded. The situation is very painful and blood is everywhere.”

The witnesses said the first blast shook the mosque soon after worshippers gathered for prayers. A second suicide bomber detonated his explosives belt when guards tried to stop him rushing deep inside the mosque.

It was the second attack in the capital this month to target a mosque. On Sept. 2, at least 28 people were killed and 75 wounded in twin suicide bombings claimed by IS at a mosque in northern Sana’a.

 

Financialtribune.com