American targeted in Yemen attack

A group of Americans have come under attack in their vehicle outside a restaurant in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, officials say.

None of the Americans was hurt.

A number of suspects have been arrested.

The Yemen Observer newspaper said a bomb went off under a pick-up truck carrying Americans. It reported that a 28-year-old Jordanian had been arrested.

The attack hit the vehicle outside a restaurant in Hadda, a commercial district in the capital, the officials said. It was not clear if the Americans were embassy personnel.

Al Qaida’s affiliate in Yemen has carried out a number of attacks against foreign embassy staffers – most recently in October when militants fired a rocket at a British Embassy vehicle carrying four officials and the deputy chief of mission. One staffer and three bystanders were wounded.

The United States has dramatically stepped up counterterrorism aid to Yemen’s government to fight al-Qaida.

Officials said later a bomb was thrown into the back of the vehicle, leaving it undriveable.