![A picture taken on August 8th, 2018 shows a pro-government soldier attending a mine clearance and dismantling training at a centre funded by the UAE, on the Hadramaut coast. [Karim Sahib/AFP]](/cnmi_am/images/2019/05/06/17965-Yemen-mine-removal-700_496.webp)
Yemeni officials and scholars have strongly denounced a deadly Friday (May 3rd) attack carried out by al-Qaeda in Hadramaut province's al-Qatn district.
Al-Qaeda elements planted a barrel filled with 25 kilogrammes of explosives that had been marked with the group's black flag at an intersection in al-Enein in al-Qatn district. The resulting blast killed six civilians and wounded eight others.
Al-Qaeda is responsible for the crime, Hadramaut governor Maj. Gen. Faraj Salmeen al-Bahsani said, vowing a "painful response" against the perpetrators.
"This is a terrorist, criminal attack carried out by criminals who placed an improvised explosive device (IED) next to a drinking water cooler," he said.
"Security agencies are pursuing the criminals," he said, urging civilians to co-operate with them and provide them with any information that might lead to the apprehension and arrest of the perpetrators.
"The people of Hadramaut denounce terrorism and condemn all of its acts," he said, pointing out that most province residents seek peace and security.
Hadramaut deputy governor Sheikh Abdul Hadi al-Tamimi told Al-Mashareq the barrel of explosives was planted by terrorists against an unknown target.
"The barrel was discovered and reported, and security guards were positioned around it, pending taking a decision about how to deal with it," he said.
"However, a young man suddenly tried to move the barrel off the road, but it exploded," he added. "I believe the barrel was blown up using a remote control device."
A plan to confront al-Qaeda
A two-pronged approach, involving both security and religious authorities, is necessary to confront al-Qaeda and extremism in general, al-Tamimi said.
On one hand, security agencies have "put in place a security plan, in which we raised the security alert and ramped up security measures to confront terrorist plots from al-Qaeda and others", he explained.
On the other, he said, religious scholars and guides have set out to confront extremism at the onset of the holy month of Ramadan by promoting moderation and renouncing terrorism and violence.
Al-Tamimi stressed that he and all the people of Hadramaut "reject all terrorist acts that target innocent victims".
Such acts "tarnish Islam and negatively affect society", he said.
Sheikh Ahmed al-Saadi, general manager of the Religious Endowments and Guidance Office in Wadi Hadramaut, told Al-Mashareq he rejects such terrorist acts and condemns them in the strongest terms.
"However, my role and that of Hadramaut scholars and guides is greater than mere condemnation," he said, pointing out that his office "is not restricted to issuing statements of condemnation".
"Rather, it includes organising lectures, lessons and courses to correct misperceptions and instill the principle of moderation in religious discourse," he said, as well as ensuring young men understand the true meaning of the Qur'an.
"A meeting will be held in the coming days, to be attended by several religious institutions and associations, to co-ordinate efforts and address the issue of extremism," al-Saadi said.
