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Man Throws Grenade at U.S. Embassy in Yemen

Aired March 15, 2002 - 12:38   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: As that case continues to wind down there in Houston, Texas, we're watching another story right now, still developing overseas now in a country of Yemen, capital city of Sanaa, I'm getting reports right now, that a short time ago an explosion was heard near the U.S. embassy there in the capital city. A journalist there is joining us now by telephone.

Faris Sanabani, I believe the correct pronunciation for the name here. Can you describe what residents saw there, or what you heard and saw, and what's happening now.

FARIS SANABANI, EDITOR, "YEMEN OBSERVER": Yes, there is a young gentlemen. His name is Samir Yakyar. He is 25-years-old, and he is student at high school, troubled student at high school. He was walking by the embassy wall premises, the outside wall on the main street, which is surrounded by government security, Yemeni security. He pulled a hand grenade, throw it toward the embassy, stuck in a tree, outside exploded, no injury, no damage.

As he was reaching into his jacket to get something else, the Yemeni security moved in and arrested him. They found another hand grenade inside his jacket. They took him in. The source at the ministry of information told us that initial investigations say that he is not linked to organized crime, and that he is he under arrests.

HEMMER: And was there anything that he said during the time of the throwing of this grenade?

SANABANI: No, nothing. Again, was he was not strapped, he had two hand grenades. One of them was thrown, and the other one, security arrested him before he throw it. He did not say anything. He didn't even look suspicious. He was walking bay, and the security did not suspect him, but when he did throw the bomb, they moved in and they arrested him.

HEMMER: And age again, Faris?

SANABANI: He is 25-years-old, the security source revealed to us.

HEMMER: I understand the area around the embassy has been sealed off, closed for security. Can you update us on what's happening there? SANABANI: Yes, just to describe clearly, the embassy and the ambassador residence is within that premises, and the wall is about 100 meters from the street, so even if this man has managed to throw the hand grenade inside, it will not reach the building. However, there is police vehicles in the corner of the embassy with six to seven guards, and there is quite a number of people around, and also on the streets, adjacent to the embassy, there is undercover security, and also more...

HEMMER: Also, Vice President Dick Cheney was there yesterday for a brief visit there in your country. I understand on Wednesday night, there was a warning going out to Americans who might be living or traveling in Yemen to make sure they take extra precaution, but apparently, during his visit there, there were no incidents reported, correct?

SANABANI: That is correct, no incidents.

HEMMER: All right, Faris Sanabani, a journalist there in the capital city of Sanaa. Again, the report we are getting, a 25-year- old man tried to throw a grenade in the direction of the U.S. embassy. He was apprehended right now, in police custody.

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