Only a year later, Mujahid says he saw further evidence regarding the role of Yemeni intelligence with regards to Al-Qaeda. That was after an attack against the US embassy in September 2008.
LEAD-UP TO THE ATTACK
The only difference this time, Mujahid alleges, is that Ammar Saleh helped fund the operation and provide Al-Qaeda with the necessary weapons.
"I delivered them the information step-by-step until three days before the operation. I believe that the security agencies in Yemen wanted this operation to take place."
ATTACK ON THE US EMBASSY
BEFORE THE ATTACK
According to Mujahid, in a meeting with Ammar Saleh months before the attack, Saleh was keen to keep Al-Qaeda functional despite Mujahid's claim that the fighters were running low on weaponry, particularly in the lead-up to the embassy attack.
Mujahid’s allegations raise serious questions about the role of Ammar Saleh, and even his uncle Ali Abdullah Saleh, and what role they could have played in the attack on the US embassy that killed 19 people, including several civilians.
"Ammar Saleh gave me a sum of money. I left for Taiz. He told to me stay for two days and then inform Abu Hurayra [Qasim al Raymi] to collect the materials [for the US embassy attack]."
LEAD-UP TO THE ATTACK
PLANNING THE US EMBASSY ATTACK
PLANNING THE US EMBASSY ATTACK
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THE ATTACK
LEAD-UP TO THE ATTACK
Armoured vehicles pulled up to the entrance of the American embassy, carrying Al-Qaeda fighters dressed as Yemeni officers, before fighting ensued. Though no one from the embassy was hurt, several civilians and security guards at the gate were killed in the attack.
THE ATTACK
RICK SCHWEIN REMEMBERS
RICK SCHWEIN REMEMBERS
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AN INVESTIGATION LEADS NOWHERE
THE ATTACK
According to FBI attaché Rick Schwein, who witnessed the attack and was part of the investigation afterward, information handed to the Yemenis from the American investigators did not offer any significant investigative leads.
But if Mujahid’s story were true, that would mean members of the Yemeni government wanted it that way.
“Complicity on the part of one or more members of the Yemeni government would be very disappointing, but it wouldn’t necessarily be surprising.”
AN INVESTIGATION LEADS NOWHERE
RICK SCHWEIN,
FBI LEGAL ATTACHE IN YEMEN 2008-2009
THE CURIOUS STORY OF US EMBASSY ATTACK LEADER
ON VIDEO
The curious story of US embassy attack leader Mahmoud Saad
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