Grenades hit US embassy in Yemen

Published March 16, 2002

WASHINGTON, March 15: A young Yemeni man threw two explosive devices, apparently grenades, at the US embassy in Yemen on Friday, officials said, a day after US Vice President Dick Cheney made a brief stop in the country.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that initial reports indicated that there was no damage to the embassy in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, nor any injuries to people inside.

“A person was outside one of the perimeter walls of the embassy and threw two objects which appeared to bounce off the wall and explode,” he said.

“The person is now in the custody of the Yemeni authorities,” said Boucher.

Another official said the devices thrown by a Yemeni individual were “concussion” grenades. Local residents in Sanaa also said a grenade was thrown. The attacker did not make it over the embassy wall, officials said.

The blast happened at around 6:00 pm (1600 GMT) in Sanaa’s northeastern Sa’wan neighborhood, where the US embassy is located. Police blocked access to the area, witnesses said.

The embassy had warned Thursday of a possible imminent terrorist threat to US interests in the Gulf state this week as Cheney visited the country, according to a document.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...