Al Qaeda claim responsibility for 96 deaths in suicide blast

A suicide bomber with explosives strapped under his uniform killed more than 90 people at a military parade rehearsal in the Yemeni capital Sana’a, an attack which will alarm Washington as its involvement in the front-line state deepens.

Yemeni president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, facing a growing campaign by an al Qaeda affiliate in the country, said security forces would become “tougher and more determined in pursuing terrorist elements”.

Yemen’s defence minister and chief of staff were both present at the rehearsal for yesterday’s National Day parade but neither was hurt. A police source said he could not rule out the bombing was an attempt to assassinate them.