INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: 5/14/03 Ibb Courtroom Explosion: Likely a Criminal

Published: Thu 15 May 2003 03:43 PM
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SANAA 001119
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/EX, S/CT, CA, DS/DSS,
DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, CENTCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER AMGT COUNTER TERRORISM
SUBJECT: 5/14/03 IBB COURTROOM EXPLOSION: LIKELY A CRIMINAL
ACT
REF: SANAA 1105
1. On May 15, one day after an explosion occurred in the same
courthouse in Ibb as the recently concluded trail of the
Jibla hospital murders, more details have emerged that point
to this incident being a result of a tribal dispute.
2. Ibb PSO officer al-Kudaimi, told Consular FSN that a
night-shift military guard allowed the perpetuators to place
the bomb inside the appeals courtroom the night before the
incident occurred. The next morning, the bomb went off as the
judge entered the room, slightly injuring him. PSO reports
no other casualties.
3. Al-Kudaimi reported that nine or ten individuals
allegedly connected to the attack were arrested and charged
with disturbing the peace. Further charges will be added
pending the results of a task-force investigation. The
murder trial that was being held in the courtroom where the
explosion took place was originally held in Yarim, but was
moved to Ibb for security reasons. Al-Kudaimi stressed that
PSO does not believe this is related to any extremist
activity, and believes that the man's fellow tribesmen sought
revenge for his murder conviction.
4. Ministry of Interior officials told RSO they had no new
information to report.
5. Comment: As more information comes to light, the courtroom
explosion increasly appears to be the result of a tribal
dispute and not related to al-Qaeda or other extremist
activity. There is no indication of a link to the recent
conviction of the Jibla hospital murderer. End Comment.
HULL
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media