6 Dead, Dozens Hurt in Attack on Navy Ship

Oct. 12 -- Six U.S. sailors are dead, 36 injured and 11 missing after two terrorists on a suicide mission attacked a U.S. Navy destroyer today in the Middle Eastern port city of Aden.

The explosion that tore a hole in the side of the USS Cole during a refueling stop at a facility in Aden, Yemen, was the result of a well-planned terrorist attack, U.S. officials said.

The incident may be linked to alleged terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden’s organization, U.S. officials have told ABCNEWS.

At the White House, President Clinton pledged action. “If, as it now appears, this was an act of terrorism, it wasa despicable and cowardly act. We will find out who wasresponsible and hold them accountable,” Clinton told reporters.

“If their intention was to deter us from our mission ofpromoting peace and security in the Middle East, they will failutterly,” he said.

Defense Secretary William Cohen said no one had claimedresponsibility for the attack, but said he ordered an increased alert levelfor all U.S. forces around the world, including those in the UnitedStates.

The State Department today also warned that U.S. citizens should avoid travel to Yemen and urged all U.S. citizens abroad to “maintain a high level of vigilance.”

Small Boat Assisted Refueling

U.S. officials said the explosion occurred when a small boat assisting in the refueling of the USS Cole pulled alongside the destroyer, which was carrying about 350 crew members. The officials confirmed six sailors were dead and 11 others still missing.

Two individuals on board the small boat were helping to gather up the mooring lines of the Cole, officials said. The individuals took one line out to an anchor buoy and were coming back for a second line when the explosion tore a 20-foot by 40-foot gash in the mid-hull section at around 12:15 local time, or 5:15 a.m. ET.

The blast was strong enough to blow out windows hundreds of yards away.The damage was concentrated inone of the engine rooms and flooding has been controlled.