King decorates Rangers who helped arrest suspected terrorist

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, on Sunday bestowed the Medal of Bravery and Rescue of the Second Class on Capt. Faisal Adwan and Serg. Ahmad Adwan, both Rangers, who assisted in the capture of the suspected Baqaa attacker, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The attack on the General Intelligence Department (GID) office took place on June 6 and left five personnel dead, including three officers who guarded the office.

Receiving the two officers and their parents at Al Husseiniya Palace, His Majesty commended their bravery, saying: "Your act of valour embodies the true meaning of conscious citizenship and your efforts are an honourable model that reflects the unity of Jordanians, their alertness and keenness on protecting the Kingdom's security." The King described their act as a “source of inspiration for all”. 

The terrorist attacks that have targeted Jordan boost the country’s persistence to fight back against “dark ideologies” that try to force their way into the ranks of Jordanians, the King said, adding that all Jordanians stand united as a line of defence for the homeland. 

For their part, the decorated officers expressed their joy for receiving the Royal recognition, which, they said, would always motivate them to “give more and continue serving the country and maintain its security and stability”. 

At the time of the attack, Serg. Adwan had suspicions about the suspect when he found him in a mosque in the former’s native village and when he attempted to arrest him, the statement said, the man reportedly shot and critically injured him with the same weapon used in the attack. He was admitted to the army-run King Hussein Medical Centre and underwent several surgeries before he recovered. 

Capt. Adwan was also in the scene and helped capture the suspect. 

The meeting was attended by Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, King’s Military Adviser and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben, King’s Adviser on National Security Affairs and General Intelligence Department Director Gen. Faisal Shobaki, King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan, Royal Court Secretary General Yousef Issawi and Public Security Department Director Maj. Gen. Atef Saudi.

The police chief had rewarded both Rangers for their bravery, promoting Ahmad from the rank of corporal to sergeant, while the captain was awarded a six-month seniority in his current rank.