MANILA, Philippines – Seven Filipino hospital workers were killed in a militant attack on a Yemeni defence ministry complex, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday (December 6th), according to AFP.

Foreign Department spokesman Raul Hernandez also said other workers "pretended to be dead" to survive Thursday's assault in Sanaa, which left 12 Filipinos injured.

Yemen's Saba news agency had reported only two Filipina nurses were among the 52 people killed in the attack.

"We condemn this senseless and barbaric act and we call on the Yemeni government to bring the masterminds to justice and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of Filipinos and other foreigners in Yemen," Hernandez told reporters.

A suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden car into the Yemeni defence ministry complex, and a follow car of armed militants opened fire on staff. A hospital within the complex bore the brunt of the attack.

Hernandez said Filipino fatalities included one doctor while the rest were hospital workers, mostly nurses. Diplomats were checking area hospitals for other Filipino casualties, he added.

Saba reported 167 people were wounded, nine of them seriously.