This was the scene in the Yemeni capital Sanaa overnight.

Three large explosions rocked the Hadda district, reportedly injuring at least four people.

Residents say all three blasts happened near security targets - the defense ministry, the central bank and the home of the former president.

With daylight, neighbors took in the damage to their district.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic ) WITNESS, TAHA AL-KADASY, SAYING

"We heard a big explosion, we rushed to the scene, and we heard it was an explosion or a rocket, but we didn't know what happened, and our neighbor's house was burning."

This is the same district where a British man was kidnapped on Monday.

It was the second abduction of a Westerner in Yemen in recent days.

Yemen - one of the poorest countries in the Arab world -- is home to one of al Qaeda's most active branches.

The U.S. ally is struggling to stabilize itself in the face of an increasing breakdown in security.