SANAA — A suicide bomber killed at least 23 people in central Yemen on Wednesday when he blew himself up at a cultural center where students were celebrating Prophet Mohammad's birthday, medical sources and a resident told Reuters. They said at least 23 bodies, including women and children, had been transferred to two hospitals in the city of Ibb.
In a text message, the state Saba news agency cited the head of Ibb's police as saying three people had died and 30 had been wounded. No one claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing in Ibb province, which is controlled by the Shi'ite Muslim Houthi group that dominates Yemen. Wednesday's attack resembled previous attacks carried out by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which operates in Yemen. AQAP regards Shi'ites, the sect of Islam to which the Houthis belong, as heretics.