SANA’A — Minister of Transportation Waed Badeeb said he received phone threats just hours prior to an explosion in the cafeteria near his office at the Ministry of Transportation on Tuesday.

In a press release, the ministry's office said Badeeb received telephone threats Tuesday morning. The phone number was blocked, and the unknown caller threatened to assassinate the minister using explosives. The Ministry of Transportation has yet to make any accusations regarding who is behind the act.

A source at the ministry said that the explosion took place because of gas dispersion inside the cafeteria on the fourth floor, indicating that cafeteria workers were using the cafeteria's oven as usual. When the oven was lit, a loud blast shook the fourth floor, creating confusion and panic among the staff.

The source said a cafeteria worker sustained burns to his face and head in addition to other parts of his body. He was immediately hospitalized. The source confirmed that the minister was not in the ministry compound when the blast happened and claimed the explosion resulted in only minor damage.

Ministry of Interior staff hurried to the scene of the blast to investigate, according to the source.

One month ago, the minster's vehicle was exposed to a planned "traffic accident" while he was on his way from Sana'a to Aden. Although the minister was among them at time of the incident, only his escorts were injured.