Anti al-Qaeda Yemeni group Aden – Bassim Fadl Al-Qaeda was responsible for the assassination attempt carried out against Popular Committee leader Abdullatif Al-Sayyed in South Yemen, revealed the party’s operation commander Hussein El-Weheshy to Arabstoday. Sayyed escaped a bomb attack in September. He sustained severe injuries and was taken to hospital in Saudi Arabia. In an interview with Arabstoday, Popular Committee Operation Commander Hussein El-Weheshy denied that his troops attacked civilians in Jaar, South Yemen. He said: “We know who carried out the assassination attempt. His name was Mohamed Hussein Fadl, he was 22 and came from Brega.” Weheshy said: “The absence of our leader will not affect our activities. His health is stable as was able to perform Hajj this year.” When questioned about the presence of Al-Qaeda in Jaar, the operation commander said: “Al-Qaeda is not active in Jaar, the Committee got rid of them in the area back in May. We cracked down on terrorist groups who took control of the region for several months.” Weheshy denied that his party was taxing citizens. He said: “We don’t impose taxes on citizens in Jaar. These are just rumours.” He explained that the Committee carries out inspections in civilian houses to find weapons. He said: “The civilians are happy with our job and they are grateful.” Weheshy added: “Now the security situation in Jaar is stable, we want the State to help and support Jaar.” The Abyan Popular Committee was created in March 2012. The organisation gathered volunteers, retired military officers, tribesmen to fight Al-Qaeda in Jaar and Zinjibar. It was led by late Salem Ali Kotn who defeated al-Qaeda in May 2012.