Philippines condemns Yemen attack that killed 7 Filipino hospital workers, injured 11 others

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines on Friday condemned an al-Qaida-style attack by a suicide car bomber and heavily armed gunmen on Yemen's Defense Ministry complex that killed 52 people, including seven Filipinos.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said 11 other Filipinos were slightly wounded in Thursday's attack. Those killed included a doctor and nurses.

The victims were among 40 Filipino workers in the hospital inside the complex.

Hernandez said that the Philippines' honorary consul reported that the others survived by pretending to be dead.

He said that the survivors were taken to a safe place and that the situation had stabilized.

"We condemn this senseless and barbaric act and we call on the Yemeni government to bring the masterminds to justice and to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of Filipinos and other foreigners in Yemen," Hernandez added.

There are nearly 1,000 Filipinos working in Yemen.