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Jordan attack: Canadian among 10 dead in Karak shooting Jordan gun attacks: Stand-off with armed men in Karak ends
(about 3 hours later)
Gun attacks in and near the Jordanian city of Karak have left 10 people dead including a Canadian tourist and at least four police officers. Jordanian security forces say they have killed four gunmen after flushing them out of a historic hilltop castle in the city of Karak.
Unidentified gunmen opened fire on two police patrols before fleeing to an ancient hilltop castle and attacking a police station there, officials say. The gunmen had fled to the castle after a shooting spree that left 10 people dead including a tourist from Canada and at least four police officers.
Several tourists trapped in the castle were later freed and police were in a stand-off with gunmen as night fell. Police said suicide belts and weapons had been seized at a hideout used by the "terrorist outlaws".
No group has admitted carrying out the attacks. However, it was not clear if the men belonged to any militant group.
Earlier, the gunmen had opened fire on two police patrols before fleeing to the castle and attacking a police station there, officials said. Several tourists were trapped in the castle but were freed as security forces moved in.
At least 27 people have been wounded, some seriously.At least 27 people have been wounded, some seriously.
"Police and security forces have surrounded the castle and its vicinity and launched an operation to hunt down the gunmen," a statement by Jordan's public security directorate said.
Jordan's fight against home-grown extremismJordan's fight against home-grown extremism
Witnesses said shots could still be heard late into the night and security forces fired tear gas to try to flush out the gunmen.
Jordanian officials said events began earlier in the day with a shoot-out between police and armed men at a house near Karak. The gunmen then fled by car into the city.Jordanian officials said events began earlier in the day with a shoot-out between police and armed men at a house near Karak. The gunmen then fled by car into the city.
The security directorate said gunmen had also shot at a security patrol before they reached the castle. Once inside they opened fire on a police station, a statement said. The security directorate said gunmen had also shot at a security patrol before they reached the castle. Once inside they opened fire on a police station.
It is not clear if all the fatalities took place at the castle.It is not clear if all the fatalities took place at the castle.
It is also not clear how many tourists were trapped inside Karak's Crusader-era castle.
Footage on social media purportedly from the scene show armed police moving into the sprawling castle complex and helping tourists when shots ring out and they are forced to retreat.Footage on social media purportedly from the scene show armed police moving into the sprawling castle complex and helping tourists when shots ring out and they are forced to retreat.
US tourist Avinash Cavale told the BBC he and his wife were arriving by car at the castle when gunfire broke out.US tourist Avinash Cavale told the BBC he and his wife were arriving by car at the castle when gunfire broke out.
"We were about 20m (60ft) from the castle gate when we started hearing gun fire. There were a lot of different types of firing coming from different directions," he said."We were about 20m (60ft) from the castle gate when we started hearing gun fire. There were a lot of different types of firing coming from different directions," he said.
"We were still in the vehicle and just about to get out, so we closed the doors and local folks were yelling at us to get out. The street was very narrow but we reversed down.""We were still in the vehicle and just about to get out, so we closed the doors and local folks were yelling at us to get out. The street was very narrow but we reversed down."
Jordan is a close ally of the US and a member of the US-led coalition fighting the so-called Islamic State (IS) group in Syria and Iraq.Jordan is a close ally of the US and a member of the US-led coalition fighting the so-called Islamic State (IS) group in Syria and Iraq.
US forces have trained a small group of Syrian rebels in Jordan as well as Iraqi and Palestinian security forces.US forces have trained a small group of Syrian rebels in Jordan as well as Iraqi and Palestinian security forces.
IS has previously threatened to "break down" Jordan's borders.IS has previously threatened to "break down" Jordan's borders.
In June the group said it was behind a suicide truck-bomb attack that killed six security personnel on the border with Syria.In June the group said it was behind a suicide truck-bomb attack that killed six security personnel on the border with Syria.
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