Police sources confirmed on Saturday that the disappearance of a Dutch couple from their residence in Hadda (a southern district of the capital home to a majority of diplomats and foreign workers) is likely to be tied up to yet another kidnapping.
A Dutch woman, Judith Spiegel, a researcher was reported missing a few days ago with her husband, Boudewijn Berendsen . "It is likely they were kidnapped, but we do not know who was behind it," Reuters quoted a source as saying.
An anonymous source is believed to have prompted the police to go to the couple's home to verify their whereabouts. After confirming the couple had not returned home for several days, having left behind their pet dog, the authorities suspected foul play.
So far the Dutch authorities have remained tight-lipped about the whole affair.
While kidnapping has always been an issue in Yemen, with tribes often using foreign nationals as a bargain chip in their dealings with the central government, the last 18 months have proven ever more dangerous for foreigners, especially Europeans as they are considered high value commodities by kidnappers.
Only last month a South African couple was kidnapped in the southern city of Taiz. Officials have advanced the possibility of a terror connection in the duo's kidnapping.
No group has claim responsibility for the kidnapping at this stage and officials have refused to theorized on the involvement, or not for that matter fo al-Qaeda.