AMMAN, JORDAN – A shooting incident occurred near the Israeli embassy in Jordan on Sunday, resulting in the death of the gunman and injuries to three police officers, as reported by security officials and state media.
According to the state news agency Petra, the public security forces engaged the gunman after he opened fire on officers who were patrolling the area in Amman’s Rabia district. An investigation into the shooting is currently in progress.
Jordan’s communications minister, Mohamed Momani, labeled the incident as a terrorist attack aimed at the nation’s security personnel, confirming that authorities are actively investigating the event.
Witnesses reported that the police quickly cordoned off the vicinity of the embassy and increased their alert status upon hearing gunfire. According to two witnesses, both police and ambulances swiftly arrived at the scene in the Rabia district, where the embassy is situated.
This location has been a site of frequent protests against Israel, particularly in light of heightened anti-Israel feelings due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has witnessed some of the largest peaceful demonstrations in the region.
A security source mentioned that police advised local residents to stay indoors while law enforcement forces searched for the attacker.
Many of Jordan’s 12 million citizens have Palestinian heritage, often tracing their roots back to families that were displaced during the 1948 conflict around the establishment of Israel. Numerous individuals maintain familial connections across the Jordan River.
There is widespread unpopularity of Jordan’s peace agreement with Israel among the populace, many of whom perceive the normalization of relations as a betrayal toward the Palestinian cause.
