Karak Castle reopens its gates after December attack

AMMAN — Karak Castle was reopened to visitors on Thursday after 18 days of closure following December’s terror attack, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Visiting the fortress on Thursday, two tourists from New Zealand and Italy said they were there in spite of the terrorist attack that took place on December 18. 

Seven security personnel, two civilians and one tourist were killed in the attack. Four attackers were also killed. 

Petra quoted the Italian tourist as saying she admires Jordan for its security and stability, noting that terrorism targets “all” countries, not only the Kingdom.

The tourist from New Zealand, commended Jordan’s hospitality and safety, adding that she came to Karak, over 140km south of Amman, despite last month’s attack, according to Petra.

Karak Department of Antiquities Director Khaled Tarawneh said that the castle started receiving visitors on Thursday morning after increased security precautions were taken. 

Tarawneh noted that the directorate, in cooperation with security agencies, had reorganised the entry process to ensure safety.

A number of local residents expressed their happiness at the reopening of the castle for local and foreign visitors, and stressed that Jordan will remain defiant in the face of terrorism, according to Petra.  

One of the largest Crusader castles in the Levant, with an area of 24,000 square metres, Karak Castle is a “dark maze of stone-vaulted halls and endless passageways”, according to
the Jordan Tourism Board’s website.