Speedy trials for bombers of Aden sporting clubs

By Nasser Arrabyee 13/10/2010

The Yemeni authorities said Wednesday they will put 10 people at least on speedy trials for charges of bombing the sporting clubs in the southern city of Aden.

Security officials said investigations are almost over and trials will start over the next few days.
The speedy trials aim at re-assuring the six Gulf countries and Iraq to participate in the football tournament next month in the restive southern provinces of Aden and Abyan despite the bombings that targeted some of the sporting facilities the last of which was on Monday October 11, 2010, which killed three and injured more 10 in Al Wahda club.
Al Shualah and 22 May clubs were also targeted earlier in the week but no casualties were reported.

Primary investigations showed that Al Qaeda had nothing to do with those attacks and that the aim of those attacks was to foil the football Gulf 20 tournament, according to sources close to investigations. Earlier last month, some leaders of the separatists movement in the south warned the Gulf teams from coming to Yemen and participating in the tournament.

“I do not think Al Qaeda was behind such bombings, sporting clubs are not among its targets , although Al Qaeda would be happy with these bombings because they show how weak the government is,” Saeed Al Jemhi, chairman of centre for studies, a recently established think –tank specialized in Al Qaeda affairs.
“It was clear the aim of the bombings was an attempt to prevent Gulf 20 from happening in Yemen next month.”

On his part, the director of youth and sporting in Aden, Jamal Al Yamani said the Gulf 20 would be held on time in Aden and Abyan despite t the bombings. “ The bombings will not affect our brothers in the Gulf, they will attend and participate in the Gulf 20,” he said.
At least nine men were arrested on Tuesday for suspicion of being involved in the two bombings of Monday in the city of Aden.

Three people were killed and more than 10 were injured in the two bombings which targeted Al Wahdah sporting club in the area of Sheik Othman in Aden.

The bombings came about one month before the football tournament, Gulf 20 championship, which is scheduled to take place in Aden and Abyan from February 22 to Decemeber5, 2010. A lot of controversy is being raised about holding the championship which includes 8 countries ( the six gulf countries in addition to Yemen and Iraq) in the south of Yemen where violence from Al Qaeda activities and separation sentiment is in rise.