Chaos and violence continued to spread in the Middle East today as a mob shouting “death to America” stormed the U.S. embassy compound in Sanaa, Yemen, setting fires, burning the American flag and looting the embassy.
Protestors in Yemen have now broken thru main gate of US Embassy in Yemen. Reuters says 'hundreds' Sky sources say several thousand in total
— Tim Marshall (@Itwitius) September 13, 2012
Protesters chanting "death to America" outside U.S. Embassy in Yemen. American flag was burned.
— CBS D.C. (@CBSDC) September 13, 2012
Egypt, Libya, Yemen — how many more attacks on American diplomatic missions will we see before President Obama starts bothering with his intelligence briefings? How many more murders of American citizens?
But, you know, as he told a cheering crowd in Vegas, he had a “tough day.”
The protesters breached the usually tight security around the embassy and reached the compound grounds but did not enter the main building housing the offices. Once inside the compound, they brought down the U.S. flag, burned it and replaced it with a black banner bearing Islam’s declaration of faith — “There is no God but Allah.”
Before storming the grounds, demonstrators removed the embassy’s sign on the outer wall, set tires ablaze and pelted the compound with rocks.
Another photo of protesters trying to break through the second gate at the US Embassy in #Sanaa, #Yemen pic.twitter.com/uDF6C7al
— AJ (@AJYemen) September 13, 2012
#Yemen | Photo : American flag at US Embassy #Sanaa replaced : "There is no god but Allah & Muhammad is His Messenger." pic.twitter.com/aMn07UFl
— Haykal Bafana (@BaFana3) September 13, 2012
Outside the #US embassy in #Yemen now! pic.twitter.com/TG480KjP
— Ahmed Ali (@ahmedali_) September 13, 2012
Protestors taking stuff from the #US embassy #Yemen pic.twitter.com/zSZY11Rw RT @Dory_Eryani @akhbar
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) September 13, 2012
#PHOTO: Yemeni protesters storm US embassy in Sanaa, before being pushed back by police: pic.twitter.com/M5x4EJnN
— AFP news agency (@AFP) September 13, 2012
A protester stands in front of a burning tyre by the US Embassy in Sana'a this morning: http://t.co/jCBSUfTV
— Iona Craig أيونا كريچ (@ionacraig) September 13, 2012
A new video of storming #USEmbassy #Yemen v @NoonArabia: http://t.co/JjTJFkhq @akhbar
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) September 13, 2012
No casualties have been reported yet:
https://twitter.com/BreakingNews/statuses/246188223125155842
Journalist Adam Baron was on the scene this morning.
Cloud of smoke rising in direction of US embassy in Sanaa… #yemen
— Adam Baron (@adammbaron) September 13, 2012
Cloud of smoke rising in direction of US embassy in Sanaa… #yemen
— Adam Baron (@adammbaron) September 13, 2012
https://twitter.com/adammbaron/status/246173906556293120
At embassy, was briefly detained by Yemeni soldiers, fine now. Situation around embassy tense. #yemen
— Adam Baron (@adammbaron) September 13, 2012
I'm somehow inside the security perimeter at a parking lot run by friend of friend. Can see soldiers launching tear gas #yemen
— Adam Baron (@adammbaron) September 13, 2012
And now we have shots being fired in the air. #yemen
— Adam Baron (@adammbaron) September 13, 2012
In addition to securing embassy, seems someYemeni troops also have time to try to shake me down for cash. #yemen
— Adam Baron (@adammbaron) September 13, 2012
Situation very tense here, plume of smoke rising from by embassy, sound of warning shots ringing out #yemen
— Adam Baron (@adammbaron) September 13, 2012
Guys I'm with say some demonstrators were able to enter embassy from Sheraton street. #yemen
— Adam Baron (@adammbaron) September 13, 2012
Blogger Atiaf Alwazir also witnessed the violence.
@nefermaat, myself & a friend just returned from the #US embassy where we wanted to film & take photos of what was happening #yemen
— Atiaf Alwazir أطياف (@WomanfromYemen) September 13, 2012
outside #US embassy in #Sanaa central security pointed a gun at @nefermaat beat him up with batons & wanted to confiscate his camera.
— Atiaf Alwazir أطياف (@WomanfromYemen) September 13, 2012
Protester outside #US embassy: "prior to coming we all agreed it was going to stay peaceful & NO ONE was going to storm the embassy!" #Yemen
— Atiaf Alwazir أطياف (@WomanfromYemen) September 13, 2012
Tear gas, gun shots, & smoke filled the area outside the #US embassy in #Sanaa #Yemen
— Atiaf Alwazir أطياف (@WomanfromYemen) September 13, 2012
a protester outside #US embassy: "Those who stormed embassy were thugs who used protest wanted to steal, not to make a statement" #Yemen
— Atiaf Alwazir أطياف (@WomanfromYemen) September 13, 2012
according to protesters there were two groups of protests in front of the #US embassy, one started at 8, another at 10 a.m. #Yemen
— Atiaf Alwazir أطياف (@WomanfromYemen) September 13, 2012
when central security was beating up @nefermaat i kept telling them "he's a journalist, he's a journalist" but they pushed me away #yemen
— Atiaf Alwazir أطياف (@WomanfromYemen) September 13, 2012
Naturally, the lapdoggies at MSDNC are focusing on what really matters as violence continues to erupt.
https://twitter.com/COBfan/status/246201469676687360
Almost like the folks at MSNBC are excited by the Yemen attacks because it will keep the "Romney story" alive.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) September 13, 2012
Update:
https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/246218220388896768
https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/246218576434954240
Possible lapdog media response:
https://twitter.com/CuffyMeh/statuses/246230839111864320
Meanwhile, Egypt’s president is urging legal action in the U.S. against the makers of the Mohammed film.
Violence continues in Cairo.
RT @EgyIndependent: Update: 29 injured in clashes outside US embassy
http://t.co/hNQbOdc5 #Egypt #USEmbassyCairo— Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) September 13, 2012
And protests have spread to Iran and Bangladesh.
Anti-Islam protests reportedly spread to Tehran; 500 Iranians chant "Death to America" at Swiss Embassy. http://t.co/eP9fMAIC
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) September 13, 2012
REU: About 1,000 Bangladeshi Muslims protest anti-Islam film near U.S. Embassy in Dhaka; burn U.S. flag
— Michael van Poppel (@mpoppel) September 13, 2012
Twitchy will monitor the situation in the Middle East and update as developments occur.
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