It is my sad duty to confirm that a German security officer who worked at the German Embassy in Sana’a in Yemen was killed yesterday.

We condemn this cruel act and deeply mourn a committed and highly-valued colleague. I express my heartfelt sympathy to his friends and relatives. Our thoughts are with his family and friends in this difficult hour.

I have just spoken with my Yemeni counterpart Al Qirbi on the phone and agreed to comprehensive cooperation to investigate the crime. A team of German experts will support the investigation on the ground in Sana’a. The Yemeni Foreign Minister has expressed condolences on behalf of the government in Sana’a and offered full support from Yemen in clarifying and investigating the facts.

I also telephoned the German Ambassador today. I wish the members of the German Embassy much strength and I thanked the employees of the German Embassy for continuing their work in these difficult times.

The Federal Foreign Office’s crisis unit and the German Embassy in Sana’a are also in close contact with all relevant agencies and are striving to clarify the facts and background of the event as fast as possible.

For understandable reasons we will only issue statements based on reliable information, we will not indulge in speculation.

I can only reiterate my grief and sympathy. This is a very difficult time for all employees at the Federal Foreign Office.