Iraq-based militant group praises Jordanian gunman
An Iraq-based Muslim militant group today praised a Jordanian gunman for shooting foreign tourists visiting a popular Roman ruin in Amman, according to a message posted in its name on the internet.
The Mujahedeen Shura Council in Iraq, which claimed responsibility for several kidnappings of foreigners in Iraq, urged Muslim youth to follow the gunman’s steps.
It said the attack was launched on an “unblessed gathering of Jews and Christians for roaming freely in the countries of Islam”.
The statement, which appeared on a website frequently used by Muslim militants, fell short of claiming responsibility for the attack, which killed one British man and wounded five other Westerners. A Jordanian tourist police officer was also injured.
The six Westerners were on a sightseeing tour of Amman’s famed Roman amphitheatre yesterday, when the gunman sprayed them with bullets as he shouted “Allahu akbar”, or God is great.
Police overpowered and arrested the gunman, identified as Nabeel Ahmed Issa Jaourah, a Palestinian refugee who has the Jordanian nationality. Police are interrogating him to see if he was enticed by any militant group to carry out his assault.
Two women, one British and the other Australian, who were wounded were discharged from a hospital today as the US Embassy warned its citizens to stay away from the area of Jordan’s capital.
Despite the warning to keep away from downtown Amman, a few Western tourists were seen today in the amphitheatre area.
But the lively square around the site was mostly empty of its normal bustling mix of Iraqi refugees and tourists.
British 30-year-old Christopher Stokes was killed.
Authorities captured the gunman, identifying him as Nabeel Ahmed Issa Jaourah, and were interrogating him today to see if he was working with, or enticed by, any militant group to carry out his assault.
So far, officials say they believe that Jaourah, 38, had no links with any known terror organisation.
The warning to avoid downtown Amman, where the amphitheatre is located, came in a warden message posted on the website of the US Embassy in Jordan.
Today, two of those injured in the attack were released from Prince Hamza Hospital in good condition, said hospital spokesman Mustafa Bourani.
Bourani declined to name the women who were released, but the Australian was identified in a radio interview as 22-year-old Ashleigh Blair, who sustained a minor hip injury.
Blair told ABC that she mistook the attack for a fireworks prank. “I thought it was firecrackers…and even when I turned around and saw the guy shooting at us, the first thing that went through my head was: ’It’s just a joke,'" she said.
Another 28-year-old woman from New Zealand, who underwent surgery, was expected to remain in a hospital here for several days. There was no immediate information on two other Westerners and a Jordanian police officer who were injured.
