One dead after Sarih unrest; authorities restore calm

AMMAN — Calm was restored on Sunday in Sarih town in Irbid, a day after unrest erupted after a man was killed late Saturday night.

Ali Athamneh, 51, was shot and killed while he was sitting in front of his house along with five other men from his family, following a heated argument with a group of men believed to be relatives of a man who was shot and killed in May.

The unidentified men, were in a vehicle when they drew their weapons, including a pump-action rifle, and fired at the victims before speeding away, a police official said.

“We believe the shooting is related to the death of Quteibah Shiab, 45, an engineer, on May 8,” Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

The police official added that 12 people were rounded up by authorities for questioning but “no one has officially been charged with the murder of Athamneh,” Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

The weapon or weapons used in the shooting incident have not been retrieved by investigators, according to Sartawi.

Athamneh and the five men were rushed to a nearby hospital, where Athamneh died shortly after being admitted, a second source told The Jordan Times.

“The five other men were treated for non-life threatening wounds and were released from hospital,” the second source told The Jordan Times.

Shortly after the shooting, unidentified men reportedly torched the house of Athamneh, the second source added.

Gendarmerie forces were called in to the town in Irbid Governorate, 80km north of Amman, to contain the situation and prevent further violence, Sartawi added.

“Gendarmerie forces are still present in the town and the situation is under control for the time being. The victim’s family agreed to bury their son tomorrow,” according to the second source.

The clashes were sparked in early May following an argument between neighbours over vehicle parking.  The argument turned violent and escalated, leading to attacks on a hospital and private property, in which wooden sticks, rocks and live ammunition were used, resulting in one death and four injuries.