Suicide car bomb hits Yemen defence ministry in Sanaa

Smoke seen at the scene of the blast
| credits: BBC

 A suicide car bomb has exploded at Yemen’s defence ministry in the capital Sanaa killing at least 20 people and injuring 37, officials say.

Smoke was seen rising from the complex in Bab al-Yaman district, at the entrance to the old city.
There were reports of a gunbattle inside the complex, but officials said the situation was under control.
Yemeni security forces are fighting regional rebels and al-Qaeda, while combating lawlessness and army splits.
No-one has taken responsibility for the attack, but correspondents say it bears the hallmarks of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
“The attack took place shortly after working hours started at the ministry when a suicide bomber drove a car into the gate,” a ministry source said, quoted by Reuters.
The blast was heard hundreds of metres away.
“The explosion was very violent, the whole place shook because of it and plumes of smoke rose from the building,” an eyewitness told the agency.
Officials said a second car followed whose occupants opened fire at the complex, and a battle ensued involving gunmen in military uniforms.
“Most” of the gunmen were killed, officials said, but it was not clear how many were involved.
The scene has been cordoned off and casualties were taken to a military hospital in the compound.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the hospital itself was targeted by the militants and was damaged.
The incident comes aid tight security in the last few weeks following a series of hit-and-run attacks on officials by militants on motorbikes, blamed on AQAP.
The country has been going through a painful transition since President Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced from office in 2011.