Yemeni officials say al-Qaida prisoner in hospital kills guard in failed escape attempt
By By Ahmed Al-haj, APSunday, March 7, 2010
Yemen: Hospitalized al-Qaida prisoner kills guard
SAN’A, Yemen — Security and hospital officials say an al-Qaida prisoner receiving treatment in a Yemen hospital attacked guards, killing one and wounding another, while trying to escape. He was caught after a chase.
Hospital officials said the patient snatched a gun from one of his guards, shot at them and fled. Security forces were dispatched to the hospital, chased the prisoner and apprehended him. Their smoke grenades set a small fire in the hospital.
The officials said the patient, a foreign al-Qaida operative, was under heavy guard in the Republican Hospital of San’a.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because they were not authorized to speak to journalists.
The West has expressed concern about the growing al-Qaida presence in Yemen.
