Yemen’s Westgate

On Wednesday night, Yemenis and their international friends drew a collective breath of horror as we saw the CCTV footage from inside the Urdhi hospital.  For those (outside Yemen) who may not know the background: on 5 December 2013 a team of suicide bombers and gunmen in military uniforms launched an attack on a hospital attached to the Yemeni Ministry of Defence, an attack which bore all the hallmarks of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).  By the time the attack, including a car bomb, had ended 52 people had been killed and another 212 injured, the majority of them civilians.

The CCTV footage from inside the hospital showed how ruthless, brutal and calculating the attackers were.  The videos show them walking from room to room murdering doctors, patients and unarmed civilians, including by shooting them in the back.

In one clip, civilians – men and women – huddling in a corridor, see a man dressed in military uniform and initially seem to think that he is there to help them. He then casually tosses a grenade into the crowd.  Separate reports say that at least three nurses were murdered while trying to hide in a toilet from their attackers.  These people were not combatants or those accidentally killed in the cross-fire.  They were deliberately murdered in cold blood.  A number of internationals who were there to help Yemen were also killed, including a German aid worker, a German and two Vietnamese doctors, and one Indian and two Filipino nurses.

Yemen has had many ‘Westgates’ but this was probably the most brutal.  Reports say that AQAP took responsibility for the attack the following day, claiming that their target was a secret drone command centre.  CCTV footage of the attack and the targeting of doctors, nurses and civilians made a mockery of this claim.

AQAP have now tried to withdraw responsibility – perhaps realising the outrage that has been caused amongst Muslims, Yemenis, indeed, all human beings.  I hope the Yemeni government’s investigation identifies the perpetrators. Until then, we can all help prevent these terrible events from happening again by recognising them for what they are: a barbaric attempt to use terror and violence to prevent Yemenis from building a secure, prosperous and democratic future.

The CCTV footage also shows Yemenis at their best.  Just before the attack, the videos show Yemeni and international doctors and nurses working together to build a better future for their country.  This is something we should never forget.  The videos show people helping one another escape, taking risks with their own lives in order to save others.  This is a tribute to the courage and determination of ordinary Yemenis, the overwhelming majority of whom reject violence and terrorism as the way to determine the future of Yemen.

This attack should not and will not derail Yemen’s political transition or our commitment to helping ensuring a safe and just future for all Yemenis.  This attack happened the same day that Nelson Mandela passed away.  Mandela himself, one would imagine, would consider it a travesty that brutal injustices like this should be allowed to threaten a peaceful dialogue, something for which he struggled for so long. For our part, the UK will continue to do everything it can to increase Yemen’s ability to defeat terrorism and help Yemen build the future it deserves for its people.  We will be with Yemen throughout this difficult journey.