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A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 1 September 2018

Yemen rebel threats to Dubai show danger looms

By JON GAMBRELL documented arms transfers
Associated Press to the Houthis by Tehran
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- of everything from Kalash-
ates (AP) — A false claim nikov assault rifles to the
by Yemen’s Houthi rebels ballistic missile technology
of an attack on the world’s used to periodically target
busiest airport for interna- cities as far away as the
tional travel this week may Saudi Arabian capital of
have been quickly disprov- Riyadh. Iran’s semi-official
en by authorities in Dubai. Fars news agency, long
That doesn’t mean, how- believed to be close to the
ever, it can be taken too country’s hard-line paramil-
lightly. itary Revolutionary Guard,
The insistence of the Houthis heralded the would-be at-
and hard-line media in Iran tack on Monday as show-
on trumpeting the false- ing “Dubai is no longer
hood serves as a warning safe.” Fars alleged Dubai
to the city-state and other serves as the home of West-
parts of the United Arab ern intelligence agencies.
Emirates, now engaged in Such threats against Dubai
the yearslong Yemen war itself are rare. While the
led by Saudi Arabia. UAE’s Abu Dhabi-based
And while a previous threat federal government re-
carried by Iranian media mains highly suspicious of
drew an immediate gov- In this March 22, 2017, file photo, an Emirates plane taxis to a gate at Dubai International Airport Iran and has worked to ex-
ernment response from in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. pand its military in recent
censors, this one went Associated Press years to counter the threat,
by without censure. That claiming without offering and the West from the Ara- lated online, as did videos Dubai and other northern
means as American sanc- any evidence that they at- bian Peninsula. of an August 2016 Emirates emirates in the country of
tions sparked by President tacked Dubai International But the Houthi claim al- crash-landing at the airport seven sheikhdoms have
Donald Trump’s withdrawal Airport, a massive transit leged the Shiite rebels used that some falsely claimed historic ties to Iran. Many
from the Iran nuclear deal hub in the sheikhdom that a Samad-3 drone to bomb showed the supposed at- ethnic Persians live in the
increase, so too will the saw 88.2 million passengers an airfield some 1,600 kilo- tack. Though quickly dis- UAE. The skyscraper apart-
threats against the U.S.-al- last year alone. meters (1,000 miles) away proved, the claim gained ments and banks of Dubai
lied UAE. Any attack on the airport from territory they control immediate traction in Iran, also serve as a crucial fi-
The recent war of words would cause travel disrup- in Yemen, far beyond the which backs the Houthis nancial safe haven for the
began Monday afternoon. tions across the world, as believed distance one of in the conflict. While Iran average Iranian, as well as
The Houthi-controlled sat- the airport serves as the their bomb-laden attack directly denies arming the for government and para-
ellite news channel Al- hub of the long-haul carrier drones can fly. Faked sat- rebels, the United Nations military officials to launder
Masirah and others began Emirates that links the East ellite imagery later circu- and Western powers have money.q

Amsterdam police study possible terror motive for stabbings

By ALEKSANDAR FURTULA life threatening, according people. person with a knife in his afternoon. Forensics ex-
Associated Press to the city’s statement. Nei- “Something happened, hand walked away and perts spent hours combing
AMSTERDAM (AP) — Police ther they nor the suspect we don’t know yet what, he was shot by police,” po- the scene, disrupting rail
investigators in Amsterdam were identified. but during that two people lice spokesman Rob van services into the evening
included an extremist at- “The victims were not cho- were stabbed and one der Veen said during the rush hour. Two platforms
tack as a possible motive sen deliberately or with a were temporarily closed to
for the stabbings of two clear reason,” Amsterdam train traffic, but the station
people at a busy railway authorities said. “The inves- wasn’t evacuated. Trams
station Friday as authorities tigation is still underway, to and from the square in
in the Dutch capital report- and all scenarios remain front of the station were
ed that a suspect shot by open for the investigation stopped as police and
police is an Afghan citizen. team.” emergency services con-
The 19-year-old man was The suspect has a Ger- verged on the area. Red
questioned about his intent man residence permit, and and white police tape kept
late Friday at the hospital Amsterdam police were in members of the public
where he was being treat- contact with authorities in away from the scene.
ed for gunshot wounds Germany to find out about Central Station is a busy en-
while under guard, Am- his background, according try and exit point for visitors
sterdam City Hall said in a to the city government. to Amsterdam, with regular
statement. The stabbings occurred trains linking it to the city’s
The people stabbed at shortly after noon (1000 Schiphol Airport. Friday is
Central Station around GMT; 6 a.m. EDT) at Cen- one of the busiest days of
noon also were being tral Station in downtown Dutch police officers near the scene of a stabbing attack near the week for train travel
treated in a hospital. Their Amsterdam when a man the central daily station in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Friday as tourists arrive for the
injuries were serious, but not walked into a group of Aug. 31, 2018. Associated Press weekend.q