Yemen: security footage of suicide attack on rebel rally

Yemen has released footage of a suicide bomber blowing himself up at a rally in the capital yesterday.

The bomb struck as supporters of the Houthi rebel group arrived at a protest in a busy central square. 47 people were killed including five children.

The clip, captured on security cameras outside a bank, shows a line of protesters patting people down as they enter Tahrir square, seconds later a huge blast rips through the crowd, sending people and debris flying across the street.

The attack occurred just hours after a showdown between Yemen’s president Hadi and the Houthis after the rebel group rejected the appointment of a new Prime Minister, forcing Hadi to rescind the post.

Government officials and analysts believe the attack was the work of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

In September AQAP declared war on the Houthis, whose manifesto includes revival of the Zaydi form of Shia Islam almost unique to the north of Yemen.