The American teacher abducted by Houthi forces earlier this week was spying for the Saudi-led coalition, the Shia militia said.
Peter Willems was taken from the principal’s office of the Exceed Language Centre he heads in Sana’a.
A member of the Houthi’s Revolutionary Committee, Nayef Al Qanes, tweeted a photo of Willems’ photo with the caption: “Here is the American spy Peter Willems, director of the Exceed Language Centre. He was arrested in the capital, Sana’a, after it was confirmed that he provided co-ordinates [to the Saudi coalition].”
صورة الجاسوس الامريكي.وليم بتروا.
مدير معهد اوكسيد
تم القبض عليه بالعاصمة صنعاء.
بعد التاكد انه من يعطي الاحداثيات. pic.twitter.com/DWWOhFlXIp— نايف القانص naif AL qanees (@NAQA1968) September 21, 2016
There have been conflicting reports about whether the gunmen abducted Willems on Tuesday or Wednesday, or whether they were dressed in civilian clothing or the uniform of the Houthi rebels’ national security services.