Suicide bomber targeting Aden police chief kills 11

A car burns at the site of a car bomb attack outside the house of the Aden police chief. Reuters

ADEN // A suicide bomber rammed a bus into the house of Aden’s police chief on Sunday afternoon, killing 11 people and injuring more than 15 others.

Shalal Shaei escaped unharmed from the attack, which targeted his house in Al Tawahi district. It was the second attempt by militants to assassinate him in recent weeks.

But two of his guards and nine passers-by were killed, a source in Aden’s police office told The National.

The explosion engulfed two cars parked outside the police chief’s house, killing a family of four who were inside one of the vehicles.

“Aden’s security is in a fierce war with the terrorists in Aden, and there are several operations by the police against the terrorists, so they carry out these attacks in retaliation,” the source added.

The powerful bomb damaged part of the house, and residents from other districts in Aden city heard the strong explosion.

Abdullah Al Gahafi, commander of the police chief’s guards, said the attack took place at 5pm local time.

A bus rigged with explosives targeted the western gate of Mr Shaei’s house, which was just 200 metres from the house of Aden’s governor, Aidarous Al Zubaidi.

“The bus crashed into one of the Emirati armoured vehicle, which was at the gate,” Mr Al Gahafi said, referring to vehicles supplied by the UAE to help Yemen’s security forces. “Five of the gaurds have been killed and injured, while the ambulances arrived the area one hour after the attack.”

No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but residents of Aden suspect that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula or ISIL were involved, as the two groups often use suicide car bombers and have established a strong presence in Aden.

Mr Shaei survived a similar assassination attempt last month, as did the governor of the province earlier this month.

Aden’s previous governor, Gaafar Mohammed Saad, was killed in an attack claimed by a local ISIL affiliate. The militants rammed a car laden with explosives into the governor’s convoy as it drove through the city. Six others were killed in the attack.

* with additional reporting from agencies