Attempted murder of girl in Yemen's Taiz sparks calls for tighter security

A young girl was subjected to an attempted assassination on Tuesday in the city of Taiz, southwest Yemen, in an incident that has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for stricter security measures and the protection of civilians, particularly children.

Local sources told The New Arab that the girl, Asmaa Nazim al-Aqlani, a 12-year-old seventh-grader, was stabbed in the chest with a knife while leaving Saba School in the al-Ajeenat area of central Taiz, before the suspect fled the scene.

The same sources said security forces arrested the suspect hours after the incident and transferred him to the Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

The girl's uncle described to TNA that the attempted killing was a "horrific crime" and a "blatant violation of humanitarian values", calling on "local authorities to take urgent measures to ensure citizens' safety and hold those involved accountable".

He blamed the provincial executive authority for the deterioration in the security situation and urged the Taiz governor to fulfil his legal responsibilities, expedite investigations, bring the perpetrator to justice, and prevent him from evading punishment.

The uncle also stressed the need to protect male and female students and to end the recurring security breakdowns in the city.

The incident comes amid fragile security conditions in Taiz, which has for years suffered from the proliferation of armed groups and the weak presence of state institutions, despite being one of Yemen's most densely populated provinces.

The girl's father, Nazim al-Aqlani, is a prominent figure in the popular resistance and the national army, having participated in several battles against the Houthi group, including fighting around the Old Airport and the areas of Mushra’a and Hidan, al-Misrakh, al-Salou, and al-Aqroudh, as part of the 35th Armoured Brigade.

The incident has renewed fears of civilians and relatives of military leaders being targeted. At the same time, local human rights organisations call for children to be kept out of the conflict and for security and judicial institutions to play a stronger role in ensuring the rule of law and protecting society.