Al-Qaida threats see US, Britain close embassies

THE US and Britain closed their embassies in Yemen yesterday in the face of al-Qaida threats, after both countries announced an increase in aid to the government to fight the terror group linked to the failed attempt to bomb a US airliner on Christmas.

The confrontation with al-Qaida’s offshoot in Yemen has gained new urgency since the 23-year-old Nigerian accused in the attack, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, told American investigators he received training and instructions from the group’s operatives in Yemen. President Barack Obama said on Saturday that the al-Qaida offshoot was behind the attempt.

White House counter-terrorism chief John Brennan said the American Embassy, which was attacked twice in 2008, was shut yesterday because of “indications al-Qaida is planning to carry out an attack against a target inside of San’a, possibly our embassy”.