Yemeni Qaeda says sorry for attacking hospital
23 Dec 2013 10:15 PM GMT
Qassim al-Rimi, commander of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, said in a video posted on militant websites that the attackers were warned in advance not to enter the hospital within the complex, nor a place for prayer there. But he said one fighter did.
‘Now we acknowledge our mistake and guilt,’ al-Rimi said in a video released late Saturday by Al Qaeda’s media arm al-Mallahem. ‘We offer our apology and condolences to the victims’ families. We accept full responsibility for what happened in the hospital and will pay blood money for the victims’ families.’
The apology seemed prompted by Yemen state television earlier broadcasting a video showing a gunman attacking doctors and other hospital staff. Several Al Qaeda jihadis tried to dismiss the video as fake on militant websites, but the outcry apparently embarrassed the Al Qaeda branch to the point of issuing an unusual expression of regret from the group.
‘We rid ourselves of what our brother did,’ al-Rimi said. ‘We did not order him to do so and we are not pleased with what he did.’
However, al-Rimi said despite the group making a mistake, ‘we are continuing with our jihad.’
The authenticity of the English-subtitled video could not be absolutely confirmed, though it was consistent with other Associated Press reporting and came from Al Qaeda’s media arm.
That fighter and eight other militants were killed in the 5 December suicide bombing and gunmen attack on the ministry complex in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. Seven foreigners were killed.
‘Now we acknowledge our mistake and guilt,’ al-Rimi said in a video released late Saturday by Al Qaeda’s media arm al-Mallahem. ‘We offer our apology and condolences to the victims’ families. We accept full responsibility for what happened in the hospital and will pay blood money for the victims’ families.’
The apology seemed prompted by Yemen state television earlier broadcasting a video showing a gunman attacking doctors and other hospital staff. Several Al Qaeda jihadis tried to dismiss the video as fake on militant websites, but the outcry apparently embarrassed the Al Qaeda branch to the point of issuing an unusual expression of regret from the group.
‘We rid ourselves of what our brother did,’ al-Rimi said. ‘We did not order him to do so and we are not pleased with what he did.’
However, al-Rimi said despite the group making a mistake, ‘we are continuing with our jihad.’
The authenticity of the English-subtitled video could not be absolutely confirmed, though it was consistent with other Associated Press reporting and came from Al Qaeda’s media arm.
That fighter and eight other militants were killed in the 5 December suicide bombing and gunmen attack on the ministry complex in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. Seven foreigners were killed.
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