‘Gov’t updating US, South Africa on deadly shooting probe’

AMMAN — The government is working closely with the authorities of countries whose citizens were among the victims shot dead by a Jordanian police officer on Monday, a senior official said Tuesday.

“The concerned authorities are in direct contact with their counterparts in the victims' countries, and we report progress in the investigations related to the incident to them,” Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani told The Jordan Times.

A Jordanian police officer on Monday killed five contractors working with the Public Security Department, and injured six people before he was killed.

Two US nationals, two Jordanians and one South African were among the victims.

The shooter, identified by a relative as Captain Anwar Abu Zaid, also injured two other US contractors, three Jordanian police officers, and one Lebanese lieutenant.

One of the Jordanian victims, Kamal Malkawi, was laid to rest in Zarqa, some 22km east of Amman, on Tuesday.

The shooting took place at a police training centre in Muwaqqar in East Amman.

Relatives of Abu Zaid said he was an observant Muslim and not affiliated with any radical groups, expressing shock over the incident.

Responding to a question on the motive behind the shooting, Momani, who is also minister of state for media affairs and communications, said: “We are waiting for results of the investigation.” 

He called on the public and the media not to circulate any rumours before the investigation concludes.

Stressing that this incident is not common in Jordan, Momani said “our security system” is and will remain strong.

Mohammad Ghazal and Muath Freij also contributed to this report.