Al-Qaeda deny killing Saudi diplomat in Yemen

Locals inspect the area where Khalid al-Anzi was shot The al-Qaeda group in Yemen has denied any connection with the killing of a Saudi diplomat and his security guard in the capital, Sanaa. Khalid al-Anzi, who served as an assistant for the Saudi military in Sanaa and his Yemeni bodyguard Mubarak Shaiban, were killed when their car was shot at by unidentified assailants in the area of Bait Zabatan.
Following the incident, security forces in the country blamed al-Qaeda for the attack. However, Yemeni sources close to al-Qaeda told Arabstoday that the group denied any involvement in this assault.
Security sources predicted that the gunmen had planned to kidnap the Saudi diplomat in order to obtain a ransom, but lost control of the situation which led to al-Anzi’s death.
The officials also confirmed that the vehicle used in the attack belonged to a Yemeni judge in west Yemen. Noaman al-Qudsi suffered injuries after he was attacked in his home and his car was stolen.
The defence and interior ministers stressed the need to establish a law that protects members of the armed and security forces in the country, following the incident.
Members of Parliament said that decisions need to be taken to control incidents of kidnapping and assassinations, as well as preventing attacks on oil pipelines and power lines, which have also become a major issue in the country.