Suicide bombers in Yemen attacked two mosques during Friday prayers in the capital, Sanaa, killing at least 46 people and wounding 100 others, local media report.
Authorities believe that three separate suicide bombers carried out the attack on the Badr and al-Hashoosh mosques, according to the local rebel-controlled Al-Masirah television. The BBC says that the two houses of worship "are used mainly by supporters of the Zaidi [Shiite]-led Houthi rebel movement, which controls Sanaa."
Witnesses quoted by The Associated Press say two bombers hit the Badr mosque – one walked in and detonated his vest, causing worshipers to rush toward the outside gates, where a second bomber blew up.
"The heads, legs and arms of the dead people were scattered on the floor of the mosque," Mohammed al-Ansi told the AP, adding, "blood is running like a river."
The BBC says there was no immediate claim of responsibility, but noted that al-Qaida militants had carried out similar attacks in the past.
AP reports:
"Al-Ansi added that many of those who didn't die in the explosion were seriously injured by shattered glass falling from the mosque's windows. He recalled running for the door along with other survivors and hearing one man screaming, "come back, save the injured!" "The Shiite TV network aired footage from inside al-Hashoosh mosque, where screaming volunteers were using bloodied blankets to carry away victims. One of the dead included a small child. Corpses were lined up on the mosque floor and carried away in pick-up trucks."
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