On the killing of an American, Canadian last week:Motives still unknown [Archives:2003/628/Front Page]

Reuters & Yemen Times Staff
Official sources told Yemen Times that the motives behind the attack that resulted in the death of an American and a Canadian on Tuesday March 18 are probably not political. The attack was carried out by Naji Ahmed Al-Kumaim against a number of foreign workers in a foreign drilling company in the Safir oil field in Mareb (20 km to the east of Mareb City), killing three including a Yemeni and injuring another Canadian, who was flown to Europe for treatment. Following the incident, the attacker, who was working as a guard at the site, committed suicide.
The US embassy had confirmed the deaths of the two Western workers on the same day of the attack, and demanded immediate investigation into the incident.
The incident happened hours after US President Bush declared that war was eminent, which initially brought the possibility that this was a factor behind the killing. However, the fact that the worker killed himself following the attack makes his motives a secret for ever. But the government was quick to say that the guard was suffering from mental illness.
Sources at the company he worked at told Yemen Times that the murderer was polite in his treatment to the foreign worker, and no suspicious acts of his were noticed. “We were shocked when we heard the news and I never noticed anything suspicious about the guard.” one of the company's employees said on the condition of anonymity.
“We are still investigating the motives of the murdered. But because he was an employee at the same firm, suspicions may be raised that this attack may not necessary be related to terrorism.” a security official said.
Al-Kumaim also shot dead another Yemeni national employed at the oil firm, which was not named.
“He killed himself after his act. The motive is not yet known,” the official told Reuters.
Anti-American sentiment has been running high in Arab countries over a possible U.S.-led attack on Iraq and perceptions that Washington is supporting Israel against the Palestinians.
The US Embassy released a statement in the same day condemning the attack and requesting the government to start an immediate investigation into it.
Below is the complete text of the statement:
“The American Embassy has learned of the shooting of four employees of Hunt Oil in Mareb, Yemen.
One American citizen, a Yemeni and a Canadian were killed; another Canadian was wounded.
We condemn this violence and call on the Yemeni government to investigate it fully.
We cannot release further information pending notification of family.
The Embassy will assist in dealing with the injured and deceased.
American law enforcement personnel will assist the Yemeni government in investigating this case.”
On the other hand, the 26 September newspaper, the organ of the Yemen armed forces said on Thursday that the primary investigations revealed that the attack had no political motives.
They added that the attacker had no relation with any terrorist attack or because of the current attack against Iraq.
Last December, a Yemeni gunman killed three U.S. missionaries at a hospital. Yemen, seen as a haven for Muslim militants, has boosted security and launched a manhunt against suspected members of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.
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