Sana’a (Yemen), June 7 (DPA) A senior member of Al Qaeda accused of planning the 2007 suicide bombing of a travel convoy that left eight Spanish tourists dead gave himself up to authorities in the central Yemeni province of Marib, the Defence Ministry said Monday.
Hamza al-Dhayani surrendered after negotiations led by tribal dignitaries and local authorities in Marib, around 190 km northeast of Sana’a, the ministry said on its website, citing governor of Marib Naji al-Zaidi.
Dhayani is accused of preparing for the July 2007 deadly attack in Marib that also left two Yemenis dead and injured five Spanish tourists and four other Yemenis.
An Al Qaeda wing in Yemen has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Authorities have said that al-Dhayani and another Al Qaeda member, Ammar al-Waeli, had recruited the suicide attacker, Abdu Muhammad Rahiqa, 21, who rammed a car packed with explosives into the tour convoy. They said al-Dhayani and al-Waeli were acting under the command of Hamza al-Quaiti, the purported instructor for several bombing attacks including the Marib bombing.
Al-Quaiti was among five Al Qaeda suspects killed in a gun battle with police forces in Hadhramout province in August 2008.
