At least 90 soldiers have been killed and dozens more injured after a suicide bomber "dressed as a soldier" attacked a military parade in Yemen.
The attacker blew himself up during a drill in al-Sabin Square in the capital city of Sanaa, not far from the Presidential Palace – and just minutes before the defence minister Mohammed Nasser Ahmed and chief of staff arrived to inspect the troops.
Both managed to escape unharmed.
A Yemeni military policeman shows his bloodied gloves at the site of the bomb attack
The BBC said it was contacted by a member of al-Qaeda, who claimed responsibility for the attack - the deadliest to strike the city since February.
AFP and Al Jazeera put the death toll at 96, with 300 wounded and said that seven different hospitals were treating those affected.
The bomber was taking part in the parade, according to one report, and he left behind a scene of absolute carnage, with body parts scattered across the square.
Col Amin al-Alghabati told the Reuters news agency: "We were in a parade, suddenly there was a huge explosion. Dozens of our men were killed. We tried to help them.
Soldiers scatter after the explosion, which left scores dead and up to 300 wounded
"The suicide bomber was dressed in a military uniform. He had a belt of explosives underneath.”
The explosion was heard across the city causing panic among residents.
Al-Qaeda militants have been growing in influence in the south and east of the country, but newly-elected President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi has vowed to tackle them.
Forensic policemen collect evidence at the site of the blast