At some point between Friday 12th June and Monday 15th June,  a picnic arranged by a group of 9 foreigners in the Saa’da region in north Yemen, turned into a horror story. We know that at least 7 bodies have been found, 3 German women have been mutilated and 2 children have been found alive.

The group, comprised of 7 Germans, a Korean and a Brit were working in a local hospital in the region. Sharing the picnic with them were 3 children. It is assumed that these children were local children and not belonging to any of the foreigners. Update – according to multiple sources they were the 3 children of a German doctor and his wife kidnapped with the group.  Strangely, on Friday 12th, Yemeni tribesmen in Saada  released a group of 24 doctors and nurses whom they abducted a day earlier, demanding the authorities release two prisoners.

The Saa’da region in Yemen is one of the most beautiful. It is in this area where tourists go to visit the famous Shahara bridge. Nowadays, this region is also one of the hardest to get to. It is home to the Al-Huthi Zaidi tribe. A shia sect who have been at war with the Yemen government for the last 5 years. The city of Sa’ada has seen some very bloody fighting, most of which has not been seen or reported on by any media outside of Yemen.

The Huthi’s have denied any involvement in the kidnapping. And as news breaks today of mutilated bodies being found, they maintain this denial. Tribes who have kidnapped foreigners have never killed them. It is quite well known that if you are kidnapped, it is more a question of suffering some extended involuntary arab hospitality whilst the negotiations take place between that tribe and the government.

If the incident in Saa’da isnt connected to Al-Huthi, it leaves very few alternatives. It could be Al-Qaeda or it could be another tribe. Could it be a group connected to the recent uprisings in southern Yemen? There is a definite secessionist movement in the south.

Co-incidentally, on Sunday, as news was breaking of the kidnapping, Reuters began breaking the news that Yemen security sources were saying last Friday they arrested in Marib a Saudi who was believed to be ‘Al Qaeda’s Chief Financier In The Region’.

It is also being reported that the group were members of a Christian Baptist organisation.  Was religion the main reason to kidnap and then kill? Clearly the group had no reason to fear for their safety.

At the time of writing there are more questions than answers. It may stay that way. I’ll find out the latest whilst i’m in Sana’a.