Barran Press
On Sunday, October 27, 2024, local and security sources disclosed chilling details surrounding four gruesome murders that occurred in the village of Sarif, located in the Bani Hashish district east of the Yemeni capital, Sana'a. The perpetrator, identified as Ali Abdu Al-Sarfi, is a local resident and member of the Houthi group, which is internationally recognized as a terrorist organization.
According to sources who spoke with Barran Press, Al-Sarfi, dubbed the "Butcher of Sarif," has confessed to the murders, including a fourth victim whose body is currently being recovered. The crimes share strikingly similar details.
Investigations indicate that Al-Sarfi lured his victims under the pretense of a buried treasure, claiming he needed assistance to unearth it. He would invite young men to a nearby hill, maintaining secrecy about his intentions. Once at the site, he would insist on bringing his rifle for "protection" while he convinced them to begin digging.
After the victims grew fatigued from digging, Al-Sarfi would strike them in the back of the head with a pickaxe or large stones, ensuring their death before burying them in the same pit and seeking out another victim.
Reports suggest that Al-Sarfi has claimed four young victims using this method. Local informants revealed that the Houthi security forces in Bani Hushaish are attempting to circulate an alternate narrative regarding the motivations behind Al-Sarfi's actions, suggesting they are not purely criminal but related to internal purges within the group, as three of the known victims were affiliated with the Houthis.
The fourth victim is believed to be from the Wusab area in Dhamar province and was reportedly brought into the region as part of Houthi security personnel.
Al-Sarfi is described as an early recruit to the Houthi group, having undergone sectarian training and currently residing in their designated headquarters in Sarif.
On October 25, 2024, local sources reported the discovery of a buried body in Sarif, following the earlier finding of another corpse, inciting unprecedented fear and alert among the villagers. Residents uncovered the remains of a man known as "Abu Hashim," a Houthi member, and are currently searching for additional bodies.
After the first body was discovered, authorities apprehended Al-Sarfi, as he was the last person known to have contacted the victim before his disappearance.
Residents have accused Al-Sarfi and his accomplices of executing Younes Al-Sarfi, whose body was found earlier, along with four other missing individuals whose remains are still being sought. The motives behind these killings remain unclear.
Just days earlier, local sources reported the discovery of Younes Ali Hazam Al-Sarfi's body near a vineyard in Sarif, following a week-long search after he went missing. The investigation was prompted by the discovery of his motorcycle nearby, leading villagers to investigate further until the smell of decay became evident.
Autopsy findings revealed that Younes was killed with a sharp object, specifically a pickaxe, which was found near the burial site.
On Tuesday, there were also reports of the suicide of 32-year-old Sobhi Hamoud Al-Sarfi, who was found dead in his room in the same village.