2009 Yemeni tourist attacks

2009 Shibam bombing
Part of the al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen
LocationKhazzan hill, Shibam, Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen
Coordinates15°55′04″N 48°37′57″E / 15.9177°N 48.6324°E / 15.9177; 48.6324
Date15 March 2009 (2009-03-15)
c.5:50 p.m. AST (UTC+03:00)
TargetSouth Korean tourists
Attack type
Suicide bombing
Deaths6 (including the perpetrator)
Injured3
Perpetrator Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

Two suicide bombings took place in March 2009, targeting South Korea nationals in Yemen. The first, which occurred on 15 March, targeted a group of South Korean tourists visiting the city of Shibam in Hadhramaut Governorate. The bomber detonated an explosive belt while posing for a picture with the tourists, killing four of them along with their Yemeni tour guide and injuring three others. On 18 March, another suicide bomber attempted to attack a convoy of South Korean investigators and relatives of the victims in Sanaa. However, the bombing failed and resulted in no casualties other than the perpetrator. Both attacks were claimed by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).