An al Qaeda plot to get a hold of oil and gas facilities in the Yemeni capital was foiled by Yemen authorities according to the Prime Minister's office Wednesday. However, an official from the Yemeni government who is said to be unauthorized to speak to reporters said the plot did not appear as a terrorist attack. The official says, "These are ongoing threats to oil and gas installations in Yemen, and there's nothing specific linking these threats to the latest threat in Yemen"
"AQAP has neither the manpower nor the capabilities to capture ports or seize pipelines," the official told reporters. "Security precautions are always in place regarding all oil installations and energy infrastructure in Yemen," the official continued.
News of the terrorist scare has prompted the United States to tighten security resulting to the US government issuing a travel alert to all its citizens. Embassies and consulates located in the Middle East and Africa had to close this week because of the threat. Jen Psaki of the US State Department informed reporters that the embassy is still closed because the United States government believes that the threat is still present.
The United Kingdom also decided to evacuate its staff in their foreign office in Yemen.
Rajeh Badi, one of the Prime Minister's spokespersons told the media that Yemen has already "ended an al Qaeda plot to attack strategic locations in Mukalla and Shabwa," Badi referring to other parts of Yemen."Large numbers of government forces are making sure the Yemeni coasts are safe from any al Qaeda attack. Al Qaeda sought to attack the oil pipelines, but failed and tried to attack through the coast of Mukalla but failed as well," he continued.
The threat has put President Obama's counter -terror policy under a new light, experts say. Other US allies also withdrew their people from Yemen.
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