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| 'Up to 14 tourists trapped' in Jordanian castle with gunmen | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Unidentified gunmen have fled to a castle after reportedly killing seven people, including a Canadian citizen, and injuring nine more in attacks on several police patrols in the southern Jordanian city of Karak. | Unidentified gunmen have fled to a castle after reportedly killing seven people, including a Canadian citizen, and injuring nine more in attacks on several police patrols in the southern Jordanian city of Karak. |
| Jordanian security officials said the people were killed during a series of drive-by shootings in the town and also reportedly around its Crusader-era castle. | |
| According to Reuters and local media quoting police and security sources, other tourists were believed to be trapped inside the castle with between four and six of the gunmen who took refuge there after the shootings. | According to Reuters and local media quoting police and security sources, other tourists were believed to be trapped inside the castle with between four and six of the gunmen who took refuge there after the shootings. |
| Amid reports that some local residents had entered the sprawling castle to help rescue those trapped inside, video posted on social media appeared to show several people, one wearing a rucksack, being escorted through a gate by security officials. | |
| According to al-Gahd news agency as many as 14 tourists were possibly trapped inside the castle, with some reports suggesting some may have been taken hostage, although none of that could immediately be confirmed. | According to al-Gahd news agency as many as 14 tourists were possibly trapped inside the castle, with some reports suggesting some may have been taken hostage, although none of that could immediately be confirmed. |
| Jordanian police said the five dead included four police officers and a Canadian, who – according to unconfirmed reports – was a female tourist visiting the town, 80 miles (130km) south of Amman. | Jordanian police said the five dead included four police officers and a Canadian, who – according to unconfirmed reports – was a female tourist visiting the town, 80 miles (130km) south of Amman. |
| An unconfirmed report on the Arab broadcaster al-Arabiya also suggested the gunmen in the castle may have taken hostages. | An unconfirmed report on the Arab broadcaster al-Arabiya also suggested the gunmen in the castle may have taken hostages. |
| Initial reports suggested that about 10 gunmen may have been involved in the attacks. Police said the attackers had been pursued into the castle, where some had taken cover after shooting at a nearby police station. | Initial reports suggested that about 10 gunmen may have been involved in the attacks. Police said the attackers had been pursued into the castle, where some had taken cover after shooting at a nearby police station. |
| According to the first reports gunmen in two different positions opened fire inside the town, one targeting a passing police patrol and another firing from close to or inside the castle. | According to the first reports gunmen in two different positions opened fire inside the town, one targeting a passing police patrol and another firing from close to or inside the castle. |
| Video footage posted online by witnesses claiming to be in Karak showed people running in the street and police taking cover behind vehicles near a police station amid the sound of shooting. | Video footage posted online by witnesses claiming to be in Karak showed people running in the street and police taking cover behind vehicles near a police station amid the sound of shooting. |
| Karak, a mountainous city of around 170,000 people, is a popular tourist destination, with the ruins of its fortified town and castle sitting 900 metres above sea level. | |
| The Jordanian state news agency Petra said security forces were “handling the situation” amid reports on social media that the government had dispatched extra forces including helicopters to deal with it. | The Jordanian state news agency Petra said security forces were “handling the situation” amid reports on social media that the government had dispatched extra forces including helicopters to deal with it. |
| While Jordan has been left relatively unscathed both by the aftermath of the Arab spring and by the rise of Islamic State, a number of recent security incidents have raised concern about the kingdom. | |
| Hundreds of Jordanians have fought alongside Isis militants in Iraq and Syria and several thousand more support the extremist group in the kingdom. | Hundreds of Jordanians have fought alongside Isis militants in Iraq and Syria and several thousand more support the extremist group in the kingdom. |
| In November 2015, a Jordanian police captain opened fire in an international police training facility, killing two Americans and three others. The government portrayed the police captain as troubled. Others suggested the motivation was related to Isis. | In November 2015, a Jordanian police captain opened fire in an international police training facility, killing two Americans and three others. The government portrayed the police captain as troubled. Others suggested the motivation was related to Isis. |
| In the latest incident last month three US special forces soldiers, members of a training mission in Jordan, were killed after being shot at the gates of their base in the south of the country in an incident that has not fully been explained. | In the latest incident last month three US special forces soldiers, members of a training mission in Jordan, were killed after being shot at the gates of their base in the south of the country in an incident that has not fully been explained. |
| Jordan is among a few Arab states that have taken part in a US-led air campaign against Isis militants holding territory in Syria. But many Jordanians oppose their country’s involvement, saying it has caused violent deaths of fellow Muslims and raised security threats inside Jordan. | Jordan is among a few Arab states that have taken part in a US-led air campaign against Isis militants holding territory in Syria. But many Jordanians oppose their country’s involvement, saying it has caused violent deaths of fellow Muslims and raised security threats inside Jordan. |
| Officials worry about radical Islam’s growing profile in Jordan and support in impoverished areas for militant groups. | Officials worry about radical Islam’s growing profile in Jordan and support in impoverished areas for militant groups. |