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Jordan attack: foreign tourists and guide stabbed in Jerash Jordan attack: foreign tourists among eight stabbed in Jerash
(32 minutes later)
Police officer also reported to be among those attacked in city known for Roman ruins Victims at popular destination reported to include people from Mexico and Switzerland
Several foreign tourists as well as a guide and a police officer have been stabbed in the Jordanian city of Jerash, a popular destination for visitors. Eight people including four foreign tourists have been stabbed in Jerash, a Jordanian city popular with visitors.
Police sources told the Guardian at least three of those stabbed were Mexican citizens and that there might be one other foreign victim. Authorities were expected to release an official statement soon. Authorities in Jordan said the victims included tourists from Mexico and Switzerland and police sources told the Guardian that three of those stabbed were Mexican and one was Swiss. Two people have been flown to the capital Amman for treatment, local media said.
Spanish and other media initially reported that three of the victims were women from Spain but later reports suggested otherwise. A Spanish foreign ministry spokesman said: “From the information we have, there are no Spanish citizens involved, but we are still waiting for confirmation from the Jordanian authorities.” Natalie, a witness to the attack, said she and her tour group were close to the Roman city’s hippodrome when they saw a large group and heard a commotion.
She said that they realised there were people bleeding: “It looked like there had been a full-on fight. And then I saw this guy’s hand just split open and I knew somebody had stabbed people.”
She said local guides told her and her group that the attack had been carried out by “a psycho” who had been arrested and that the rest of the site was now safe.
“We walked a bit farther down towards the columns and there was a machete lying there,” she said. “There were no police lines set up or anything at the site. People were just walking around and you could walk straight through all the blood.”
She said she counted at least four victims and said three of them appeared to be severely injured.
A video purported to have been shot in the aftermath of the stabbings showed a woman lying face-first on the ground while others pressed a scarf to an apparent wound in her back.A video purported to have been shot in the aftermath of the stabbings showed a woman lying face-first on the ground while others pressed a scarf to an apparent wound in her back.
An alarmed woman was heard calling for assistance in Spanish, shouting: “There’s been a stabbing. They’ve got a knife! Please help him here! Please!”An alarmed woman was heard calling for assistance in Spanish, shouting: “There’s been a stabbing. They’ve got a knife! Please help him here! Please!”
Another man sat nearby with a bloodied leg, and bloodstains covered the ground around them.Another man sat nearby with a bloodied leg, and bloodstains covered the ground around them.
There were conflicting reports of the seriousness of the injuries. Local media said at least two people were in critical condition while Reuters reported that victims had been taken to hospital with minor injuries.There were conflicting reports of the seriousness of the injuries. Local media said at least two people were in critical condition while Reuters reported that victims had been taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Jerash is home to one of the world’s best-preserved Roman cities and is a major attraction for tourists who are a lifeline for the Jordanian economy.Jerash is home to one of the world’s best-preserved Roman cities and is a major attraction for tourists who are a lifeline for the Jordanian economy.
Sam Jones contributed to this report from Madrid