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Lackawanna High School Student Killed in Yemen

By Eileen Buckley

Buffalo, NY – The U.S. State Department has confirmed that a young American woman from Lackawanna and her Yemeni husband were killed in a terrorist attack at the U.S. Embassy in Yemen.

Lackawanna High School is mourning the loss of an 18-year old Susan Elbaneh. She was a senior at the school. Elbaneh traveled to Yemen over the summer to marry. She was outside the embassy with her husband apparently waiting to complete paperwork, according to her brother.

Lackawanna High School Principal Peter Hazzan tells WBFO News counseling is available for students at the high school and middle school. The principal says the mood at the school is somber.

"A lot of the students knew her, especially the senior class. She had been through our district coming right up through the middle school and high school. She had such a great personality and made many friends," said Hazzan.

Hazzan says was very well liked and always smiling. Elbaneh had only two courses left and would have graduated in 2009.