LONDON: Yemeni security officials say Houthi rebels fired Katyusha rockets on a military parade near the central city of Taiz, killing four civilians including a local journalist, in an apparent assassination attempt on the interior minister and his deputy.
The officials spoke about Monday’s attack on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters, AP reported.
Radwan Shamsan, a member of Rasd Coaltion, a Yemeni group that monitors human rights violations in Taiz, told Arab News that the rockets were fired at the Al-Khiami area in Al-Ma’afer district.
An unnamed boy being treated at Khalifa hospital in Al-Turbah. (Supplied)
An unnamed boy being treated at Khalifa hospital in Al-Turbah. (Supplied)
“There was a military festival for private security forces, but the bombing came after it ended,” Shamsan said, adding that at least 15 civilians were killed and the injured were taken to Khalifa hospital in Al-Turbah when four rockets were fired.
According to Shamsan, many of the injured were women and children, with a second journalist also among the injured, whilst the journalist who was killed was identified as Mohammed Al-Qadasi — a photographer for local news channel Belqees TV.
The broken camera lense of Mohammed Al-Qadasi. (Supplied)
Omar Al-Bothaigi said he was in his car with his friend, approximately two meters away from the gate of the military camp, talking to an officer and a journalist who were standing next to his car when the rocket hit.
Al-Bothaigi explained that shrapnel was lodged into his skull behind his ear after the blast. He was later taken to hospital for an MRI scan.
“Unfortunately the officer died and the journalist is in the intensive care unit,” Al-Bothaigi said.
Omar Al-Bothaigi said he was in his car with his friend, approximately two meters away from the gate of the military camp. (Supplied)