Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SANAA91
2008-01-18 16:34:00
SECRET
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:
THREE BELGIANS KILLED IN ATTACK IN HADRAMOUT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHYN #0091 0181634 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 181634Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY SANAA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8789 INFO RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0259 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0118
S E C R E T SANAA 000091
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SES-O, SES-O WATCH, DS COMMAND CENTER,
DS/IP/NEA FKETCHEM,JCREHAN AND JLEAZIER, ITAJMEANS AND
NEA/ARP WROEBUCK AND ABAGWELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL YM
SUBJECT: THREE BELGIANS KILLED IN ATTACK IN HADRAMOUT
Classified By: RSO William Mellot for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T SANAA 000091
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SES-O, SES-O WATCH, DS COMMAND CENTER,
DS/IP/NEA FKETCHEM,JCREHAN AND JLEAZIER, ITAJMEANS AND
NEA/ARP WROEBUCK AND ABAGWELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL YM
SUBJECT: THREE BELGIANS KILLED IN ATTACK IN HADRAMOUT
Classified By: RSO William Mellot for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) At approximately 2:30 PM local time, January 18 in
Wadi Dowan in the governorate of Hadramout a four-car convoy
carrying Belgian tourists was attacked by armed men. PSO in
Makulla reported that two or three of the Belgian tourists
were killed, as was one Yemeni driver. One tourist and one
Yemeni were reported to be seriously injured. At around 5:00
PM local time RSO received a report that the twelve remaining
Belgian tourists had been kidnapped. Just prior to 5:00 PM
local time the Governor of Hadramaut publicly called the
incident a terrorist attack.
2. (S) At 4:40 PM post received a telephone call from
Mohammed Sodam in the office of President Saleh passing a
direct message from the President to the Ambassador
requesting assistance with satellite imagery to monitor the
main entrances to the governorate. The appropriate office
was notified and is coordinating with the ROYG. DAO reports
that the ROYG has also requested naval assistance and
intelligence assistance in pursuing this case.
3. (C) At approximately 6:45 PM local time, a Ministry of
Interior source told RSO that the kidnapped tourists had been
released and were on their way to Sana'a. Michel van-Campen
Political/Security officer at the Royal Netherlands Embassy
in Yemen told POLOFF at 6:50 that he was on his way to Sana'a
Airport to receive the returning tourists. (Note: The Royal
Netherlands Embassy represents Belgium's interests in Sana'a.
End Note.) Van Campen told POLOFF that there had been no
kidnapping attempt. DAO sources also confirm this. He
further verified that two of the tourists had been killed and
one was seriously injured. He was unable to confirm the
number of Yemenis killed or injured. He said that, with the
exception of the seriously injured traveler, he expected all
of the survivors to return to their home country this evening
or tomorrow morning.
4. (U) Post will hold an EAC meeting on Sunday, January 20 to
discuss the incident and its impact on future embassy travel
in the region.
SECHE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SES-O, SES-O WATCH, DS COMMAND CENTER,
DS/IP/NEA FKETCHEM,JCREHAN AND JLEAZIER, ITAJMEANS AND
NEA/ARP WROEBUCK AND ABAGWELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL YM
SUBJECT: THREE BELGIANS KILLED IN ATTACK IN HADRAMOUT
Classified By: RSO William Mellot for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) At approximately 2:30 PM local time, January 18 in
Wadi Dowan in the governorate of Hadramout a four-car convoy
carrying Belgian tourists was attacked by armed men. PSO in
Makulla reported that two or three of the Belgian tourists
were killed, as was one Yemeni driver. One tourist and one
Yemeni were reported to be seriously injured. At around 5:00
PM local time RSO received a report that the twelve remaining
Belgian tourists had been kidnapped. Just prior to 5:00 PM
local time the Governor of Hadramaut publicly called the
incident a terrorist attack.
2. (S) At 4:40 PM post received a telephone call from
Mohammed Sodam in the office of President Saleh passing a
direct message from the President to the Ambassador
requesting assistance with satellite imagery to monitor the
main entrances to the governorate. The appropriate office
was notified and is coordinating with the ROYG. DAO reports
that the ROYG has also requested naval assistance and
intelligence assistance in pursuing this case.
3. (C) At approximately 6:45 PM local time, a Ministry of
Interior source told RSO that the kidnapped tourists had been
released and were on their way to Sana'a. Michel van-Campen
Political/Security officer at the Royal Netherlands Embassy
in Yemen told POLOFF at 6:50 that he was on his way to Sana'a
Airport to receive the returning tourists. (Note: The Royal
Netherlands Embassy represents Belgium's interests in Sana'a.
End Note.) Van Campen told POLOFF that there had been no
kidnapping attempt. DAO sources also confirm this. He
further verified that two of the tourists had been killed and
one was seriously injured. He was unable to confirm the
number of Yemenis killed or injured. He said that, with the
exception of the seriously injured traveler, he expected all
of the survivors to return to their home country this evening
or tomorrow morning.
4. (U) Post will hold an EAC meeting on Sunday, January 20 to
discuss the incident and its impact on future embassy travel
in the region.
SECHE