Authorities in Yemen have foiled a militant plot to attack foreign embassies and security installations in the capital Sanaa after a suspect involved turned himself over to police last week, according to media reports yesterday. Security forces have arrested five members of the group at the center of the alleged plot, raided houses and apartments and seized weapons and explosives, the Ray News website said citing security sources. The suspects included a woman. According to the report, the alleged attacker told the police of a "terror cell planning to carry out suicide attacks against foreign embassies and interests". The 22-year-old man was reportedly on his way to carry out a suicide attack, but he changed his mind and decided to surrender to the police. He revealed names of key members of the alleged group that "has been receiving funds from foreign parties". A police official told Arab News that the compound of the United Nations mission in Sanaa was supposed to be the first target of the militants.
A source from the security services said they had received last week threats from an unknown group which warned of attacks against Western embassies and interests in Sanaa if the authorities would execute those accused in the cases of the French tanker Limburg and the USS Cole destroyer. A source close to the investigation said the members of the group had enjoyed the backing of foreign parties to carry out what they described as "martyrdom" operations against installations belonging to Western countries. Members of the group were also accused of other illegal activities, including the forging currency and documents, as well as arms trafficking and smuggling, the source said.