Lackawanna Students Mourn Loss of Classmate BUFFALO (wned) - Students, faculty and staff at Lackawanna High School are mourning the death of one of their classmates.

The lone American killed in Wednesday's attack on the U.S. Embassy in Yemen was Susan Elbaneh, 18, a senior at Lackawanna High.

Principal Peter Hazzan says the mood among the 670-students is very somber and grief counselors have been brought in to help.

Hazzan says roughly 20-percent of his students are Arab-American. The Principal says it's a close-knit community.

"All the students know each other...and they all respect each other," Hazzan said.

Susan Elbaneh was wed in Yemen last month and Hazzan says she planned on returning to Lackawanna High to get the two-credits she needed to graduate.

"It is common to see our students travel to Yemen over the summer and then return in the fall," Hazzon told WNED.

Elbaneh's new husband was also killed in the attack.

The couple was at the embassy filling out paperwork to return to the U.S.

She is related to Jaber Elbaneh, who's wanted for his connection to the Lackawanna Six. But relatives stress neither Susan nor they have had any contact with the man, who is in Yemeni custody after being convicted of planning attacks on oil installations.
© Copyright 2009, wned