ADEN (AFP) – A blast at an ammunition factory killed at least 40 people and wounded 90 others on Monday near the south Yemeni town of Jaar, a day after Al-Qaeda suspects looted the plant, a local official said.

“At least 40 people, including children, were killed in the explosion,” said local government official Mohsen Salem, adding that 90 others were wounded.

A security official said the explosion came as dozens of residents were inside the factory searching for ammunition, a day after a raid by suspected Al-Qaeda fighters. The cause of the explosion remained unclear.

Around 30 armed and hooded gunmen looted the factory on Sunday and made off in four vehicles with cases of weapons, witnesses said.

The incident came as a security official said that suspected Al-Qaeda militants had seized control of Jaar, a town in the restive southern province of Abyan.