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Jordan attack: Canadian among 10 dead in Karak shooting | |
(about 1 hour 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. | |
Unidentified gunmen opened fire on two police patrols before fleeing to an ancient hilltop castle and attacking a police station there, officials say. | Unidentified gunmen opened fire on two police patrols before fleeing to an ancient hilltop castle and attacking a police station there, officials say. |
Several tourists trapped in the castle are now reported to have been freed and police are storming the complex. | Several tourists trapped in the castle are now reported to have been freed and police are storming the complex. |
No group has admitted carrying out the attacks. | No group has admitted carrying out the attacks. |
At least nine people have been wounded, with some reports putting the figure much higher. | At least nine people have been wounded, with some reports putting the figure much higher. |
Jordanian officials said events began 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 with a shoot-out between police and armed men at a house near Karak. The gunmen then fled by car into the city. |
"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. | "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. |
It is not clear how many tourists were trapped inside Karak's Crusader-era castle. | It is 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. |
The security directorate statement 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 statement 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. |
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. |
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. |
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by what has happened? If it is safe to do so, you can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by what has happened? If it is safe to do so, you can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |