At least one member of Jordan’s security forces has lost his life and another has been injured this Thursday in a knife attack recorded in the capital, Amman. The Police have confirmed this, emphasizing that the alleged perpetrator has been arrested and describing what happened as a “cowardly terrorist act”.
In a statement released on social media, the Jordanian Public Security Directorate has specified that Corporal Yauad Ali Jalaf al Salaita died after being attacked “by surprise” by an unidentified individual carrying “a sharp object”. “A patrol intervened immediately, confronting the terrorist, managing to control the situation and proceeding to his arrest,” the agency said.
The authorities have added that a second police officer suffered injuries to the face during the operation to subdue the attacker and have indicated that he remains admitted “in stable condition”.
According to the Police, the initial investigations suggest that the suspect “had planned” the attack, although for the moment no further information has been provided about his motivations. At the same time, the body has extended its condolences to Al Salaita’s relatives, describing him as someone who “achieved martyrdom while carrying out his duty to protect lives and property, and to safeguard the security and stability of the nation”.
This attack occurs about two weeks after an attack during a funeral at a church in the central province of Karak, where at least nine people died and around 40 more were injured.