Yemen suicide bomber said to be Dutch IS fighter

Sanaa: The Islamic State affiliate in Yemen has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing targeting the presidential palace in the southern city of Aden.

In an online statement posted on Twitter by the group’s supporters, IS identified the attacker as Abu Hanifa al- Hollandi, an Arabic nom de guerre that suggests he was Dutch.

The last name in militants’ pseudonyms usually indicates their nationality or place of origin. His real name was not immediately known.

It was not possible to verify the claim. The group posted pictures that appeared to show the car bomb speeding toward barricades manned by presidential guards.

Both IS and Yemen’s al-Qaida affiliate have a strong presence in Aden, which descended into lawlessness after Saudi-led coalition forces and government fighters retook the city from Shiite rebels in 2015.