Al-Qaida claims Amman attacks
The Pope have condemned "the cruel acts of violence and disrespect for law and human life". The death toll has climbed to 56 with 93 injured. The head of PNA Intelligence was among the victims. The Jordanian authorities have announced arrests.
Amman (AsiaNews/Agencies) Al Qaida has claimed responsibility for the Amman attacks which killed 56 people and injured 93. Among the victims are the head of PNA Intelligence for Cisjordan, General Bashir Nafa , his deputy, Col. Abed Allun, and the trade attaché of the Palestinian embassy in Cairo, Jedah Fattuh, the brother of the Speaker of the PNA Parliament Rawhi Fattuh. Three members of a delegation of China's National Defense University were also among the victims, while a fourth representative of the same delegation was injured. Two Israeli nationals were killed. For months, Israeli Intelligence Services have been advising against trips to Jordan because of the strong fear of attacks.
In a message to king Abdullah II the pope "deeply saddened to learn of the cruel acts of violence and disrespect for law and human life perpetrated in the city of Amman", "sends heartfelt condolences to your majesty, to the families of the deceased and to the entire nation". The pope "invokes the divine gifts of consolation upon those who mourn, and unfailing courage upon all who work for lasting peace and respect for human rights in the middle east".
Several countries have condemned the blasts, including the USA, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Syria as well as Iran and the Palestinian Authority. Even the Muslim Brothers of Jordan condemned the "terrorist crimes which no believer can accept". Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Iraqi government, Laith Kubaa, expressed total sympathy for Jordan, adding that that "before yesterday, it was clear enough that there was some form of sympathy for fundamentalists in Jordan". The UN Security Council is set to meet today to discuss the attacks.
Security measures were stepped up across Amman today and arrests of "numerous suspects" were announced. Borders with Iraq have been closed.
Police said an employee of the Hyatt hotel claimed the terrorist who blew himself up spoke with an Iraqi accent: his image has been recorded on the hotel's security system.
Some in Baghdad have been quick to note that the attacks came less than two weeks after the visit to Amman of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Ibrahim Jaafari, which was specifically aimed at enhancing security cooperation.
The authenticity of the claim of responsibility for the suicide attacks on the Radisson SAS, Hyatt and Days Inn hotels has not been verified. The claim was made on an internet site of the Al Qaida organization for the country of Rafidain (Mesopotamia), which is headed by the Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al Zarqawi, already condemned to death in his country.
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18/11/2022 13:29
