Nightmare in Karak Castle as Terrorists Hold Tourists Hostage in Jordan

Jordan Attack : 14 Dead, 28 wounded

Four gunmen are among the 14 people dead following an extended standoff between Jordanian security forces and armed gunmen. Among those also dead are a Canadian tourist and several members of the Jordanian security team. Four gunmen have also been apprehended according to the Jordanian authorities.

According to a source close to the security forces, the operation unfolded when a Syrian and a Libyan were found building a bomb which detonated prematurely. The neighbors responding to the blast were told by the men that it was a bottle of gas that exploded. When the police responded, it became clear that the two men were preparing explosives for a future operation. The events escalated with an exchange of bullets. The men fled to Karak Castle, a famous tourist site in southern Jordan, where the firefight took a dark turn. The terrorists apprehended a number of tourists and held them hostage for nearly five hours. A second source has confirmed that the conflict is now over.

This tragedy is the third reported event in Jordan this month following the shooting of a security officer in Amman and a suicide attack in the refugee border camp of Rukban in east Jordan. While it has not yet been reported, the discovery of a terrorist cell brings back memories of a large-scale sting operation in the northern city of Irbid against an ISIS cell this past spring. Given the timeliness of the attack, it is likely that the cell was planning attacks for New Year celebrations in Amman.

Jordan is known by the West as a safe haven in a neighborhood of conflicts; however, this attack reminds the world that radicalism and terrorism can spring up in any location. The Hashemite King is currently playing a strategic role in the U.S.-led coalition to fight ISIS. This role has exposed Jordan to further targeting from the terrorist organization who are connected with several plots against the country in the previous year. While Jordan attempts to contain the violence from today’s attack, they will inevitably continue to struggle for stability in the long term.