Al Qaeda plot to take Yemen cities ‘is foiled’

Yemen today said it had foiled a major al Qaeda plot to blow up gas pipelines and seize port cities in the Arab state.

Hundreds of armoured vehicles were deployed in the capital Sanaa to protect key targets including foreign missions, government offices, the presidential palace and the airport.

It follows the withdrawal of British and US diplomats. America warned of an “immediate specific” terror threat and the UK extended the closure of its embassy. The plot could have given al Qaeda control over key infrastructure in Yemen, its Arabian Peninsula base.

The Yemeni government said it had information al Qaeda was plotting attacks during Eid, the celebration this week marking the end of Ramadan, and that plans were foiled to take over key cities involving terrorists disguised as army troops. Officials believe the motive was retaliation for the death of senior al Qaeda figure Said al-Shihri in a US drone strike in Yemen, confirmed by the terror group last month.