25 killed in suicide bombing at Yemen mosque

A dual suicide bombing tore through a Shiite Muslim mosque on one of Islam’s most important holidays Thursday, killing 25 people, security officials said. Islamic State’s Yemen affiliate claimed responsibility.

The attack added to the toll of daily suffering in Yemen, which has been under bombardment for nearly six months by a Saudi-led military coalition trying to drive back Houthi rebels who overran the capital, Sana, a year ago, and subsequently seized large parts of the country.

At the same time, Al Qaeda and the Sunni extremist group Islamic State have staged a number of bombings targeting the Houthis, a Shiite offshoot sect. Thursday’s attack came as worshipers in the Balili district, many of them Houthis or their supporters, had gathered at a mosque for early-morning prayers marking Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice.

One of the bombers blew himself up in the mosque’s courtyard and the other set off his explosives inside, witnesses said. Such coordinated suicide attacks involving more than one assailant have become commonplace in Yemen and elsewhere, with a follow-up blast meant to target would-be rescuers or those attempting to flee the initial explosion.

The Islamic State claim, made in an online forum associated with the group, named only one bomber and denounced the victims as “polytheists.”

Ibrahim Sharhan, a 23-year-old vegetable seller who owns a shop next to the mosque, said the explosions left a scene of carnage, with scattered body parts and puddles of blood on the ground. The force of the blast blew out windows and doors in nearby buildings.

There were reports that one of the attackers might have disguised himself as a woman. As a crowd gathered, security officers fired shots into the air to disperse them, fearing another attack.

Zyad Abdullah, who lives nearby, rushed to the mosque in a panic, because he knew his father had gone there to pray. He found him safe, but said many of the victims were elderly residents of the neighborhood who had worshiped at the mosque for years.

Al-Alayaa is a special correspondent. Times staff writer Laura King contributed to this report from Istanbul. The Associated Press also contributed.