ADEN // The governor and police director of Aden survived an assassination attempt on Tuesday but their bodyguard was killed in the gun attack.
Aden governor Aidarous Al Zubaidi and Brigadier General Shalal Shaei were travelling in Al Mansoura district when seven gunmen opened fire on their convoy.
“Three gunmen and a bodyguard were killed and two bodyguards and a passer-by were injured by the attack but the governor and the police director of Aden were unharmed because they were riding in armoured cars,” a security officer in Aden told The National.
Mr Al Zubaidi’s aide, Mansur Zaid, said Al Qaeda militants were responsible.
The port city has seen a growing extremist presence, with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIL vying for influence.
The security officer said every effort was being made to purge the terrorists in Aden, and a plan will be implemented in the coming days in areas where Al Qaeda and ISIL militants are active.
“The coalition forces will support the new plan for fighting the terrorists in their strongholds in Aden province, and we will work hard to evacuate Aden from the people who are trying to create chaos,” he added.
Both Mr Al Zubaidi and Brig Gen Shaei survived another assassination attempt last month.
The governor was appointed in December following the murder of his predecessor, Jaafar Saad, in an Aden bombing claimed by ISIL.
On Monday, air strikes from the Saudi-led coalition targeted Al Qaeda fighters in Lahj province, a day after an Emirati soldier was killed and another was injured in the province.
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting from Agence France-Presse
