This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/22/chattanooga-gunman-uncle-jordan-arrested

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Chattanooga gunman's uncle 'arbitrarily arrested' in Jordan, lawyer says Chattanooga gunman's uncle 'arbitrarily arrested' in Jordan, lawyer says
(34 minutes later)
The lawyer for the American uncle of the man who killed four marines and a sailor at a military facility in Tennessee last week demanded the release of his client, who he said was being held arbitrarily by the Jordanian authorities.The lawyer for the American uncle of the man who killed four marines and a sailor at a military facility in Tennessee last week demanded the release of his client, who he said was being held arbitrarily by the Jordanian authorities.
Related: Chattanooga's bloody morning: one gunman, two crime scenes, four deadRelated: Chattanooga's bloody morning: one gunman, two crime scenes, four dead
“We are calling for his release because there is no evidence against the uncle,” attorney Abdul Kader al-Khateeb told the Guardian by phone from Amman on Wednesday. “It is an arbitrary arrest simply due to his relationship.”“We are calling for his release because there is no evidence against the uncle,” attorney Abdul Kader al-Khateeb told the Guardian by phone from Amman on Wednesday. “It is an arbitrary arrest simply due to his relationship.”
The gunman’s maternal uncle, Asaad Haj Ali, who holds an American passport, was summoned by the Jordanian authorities one day after last week’s attack, before being sent home and then detained again. Khateeb said he has not been able to visit his client.The gunman’s maternal uncle, Asaad Haj Ali, who holds an American passport, was summoned by the Jordanian authorities one day after last week’s attack, before being sent home and then detained again. Khateeb said he has not been able to visit his client.
Haj Ali’s nephew is Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez, a 24-year-old man who died after killing American military personnel at a recruitment center in Tennessee. Haj Ali’s nephew is Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez, a 24-year-old man who died after killing American military personnel at a recruitment centre in Tennessee.
Khateeb said the Jordanian authorities searched the uncle’s home and took away computers and telephones in what he believes was a joint investigation with the US.Khateeb said the Jordanian authorities searched the uncle’s home and took away computers and telephones in what he believes was a joint investigation with the US.
He said neither the uncle nor the gunman were religious or involved in political organisations, and the attack came as a complete surprise to the family in Jordan.He said neither the uncle nor the gunman were religious or involved in political organisations, and the attack came as a complete surprise to the family in Jordan.
“The family is shocked because they didn’t expect him to do this,” Khateeb said, adding that the attack had not been pre-planned with his uncle. “He is an ordinary person and wasn’t religious.”“The family is shocked because they didn’t expect him to do this,” Khateeb said, adding that the attack had not been pre-planned with his uncle. “He is an ordinary person and wasn’t religious.”
Khateeb has represented numerous Muslim Brotherhood clients in Jordan, where the organization is the main opposition bloc and has distanced itself from the Islamic State terror group. Jordan is participating in the American-led coalition against Isis. Khateeb has represented numerous Muslim Brotherhood clients in Jordan, where the organisation is the main opposition bloc and has distanced itself from the Islamic State terror group. Jordan is participating in the American-led coalition against Isis.
The lawyer said that the gunman, Abdulazeez, had spent five months last year with his uncle in Jordan, where he worked for his private company in the country. The visit was intended as a sabbatical to overcome drug and alcohol problems, according to the Associated Press, who quoted an anonymous source close to the family.The lawyer said that the gunman, Abdulazeez, had spent five months last year with his uncle in Jordan, where he worked for his private company in the country. The visit was intended as a sabbatical to overcome drug and alcohol problems, according to the Associated Press, who quoted an anonymous source close to the family.
Jordanian media said the gunman did not have a Jordanian passport, but was originally Palestinian and had been granted a travel document by the kingdom, a standard procedure for the substantial Palestinian population there.Jordanian media said the gunman did not have a Jordanian passport, but was originally Palestinian and had been granted a travel document by the kingdom, a standard procedure for the substantial Palestinian population there.
The FBI is still attempting to identify the motive behind the shootings. Court records and interviews by the AP have indicated a volatile family life and multiple arrests that were not linked to extremism, as well as a history of depression. While they have found amongst his writings references to Anwar al-Awlaqi, the American-born cleric and spiritual figure in al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula who was killed in a drone strike, they have not found evidence that the attack was directed from abroad. The FBI is still attempting to identify the motive behind the shootings. Court records and interviews by the AP have indicated a volatile family life and multiple arrests that were not linked to extremism, as well as a history of depression. While they have found among his writings references to Anwar al-Awlaqi, the American-born cleric and spiritual figure in al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula who was killed in a drone strike, they have not found evidence that the attack was directed from abroad.