Tourists Ambushed in Yemen

At least 2 dead, several others wounded; officials blame al-Qaeda militants
By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 18, 2008 9:49 AM CST
Tourists Ambushed in Yemen
Yemen.   (Wikimedia Commons)

Gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists traveling through southeastern Yemen today, killing four, Reuters reports. Two female Belgian tourists, a Yemeni driver, and a Yemeni guide died, and at least two other members of the 15-person party were wounded. Officials said Islamic militants associated with al-Qaeda were responsible for the attack, the AP reports.

The attack was the deadliest in the terrorism-wracked country since USS Cole was attacked in 2000, killing 17 American sailors, AFP reported. Wadi Daw'an, the desert region the convoy was traversing at the time of the attack, is popular among foreign tourists. Eight Spaniards and two Yemenis were killed last July during a suicide bombing at another popular tourist destination in central Yemen. (More Yemen stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X