Amman shooting attack
LocationAl-Muwaqqar, Amman, Jordan
DateNovember 9, 2015
Attack type
Mass shooting, workplace violence
WeaponsAK-47
Deaths6 (including the perpetrator)[1]
Injured5[1]
PerpetratorOfficer Anwar Abu Ubayd
MotiveFinancial and psychological problems

On 9 November 2015, a Jordanian police officer opened fire on a police training center staff during their lunch break at the cafeteria in Al-Muwaqqar, Amman, Jordan, killing four, including two Americans, a South African, and a Jordanian. Six others were injured, including three Americans, a Lebanese, and two Jordanians, one of whom later died. The gunman was then killed by a fellow Jordanian officer.[1][2][3]

The attack took place on the tenth anniversary of Al-Qaeda in Iraq's 2005 Amman bombings.[2]

Investigations done by Jordanian officials found that the motive of the mass shooting was "financial and psychological problems of the perpetrator".[4] The mass shooting is an uncommon event in the secure country.[5]

Attack

The attack was on personnel at the United States funded Jordan International Police Training Centre (JIPTC), a facility that principally trains Palestinian and Iraqi police officers.[3][6] The facility is located in the Al-Muwaqqar district of the Amman Governorate, and is staffed by contractors from the United States and other countries.[3] On the same day, King Abdullah of Jordan paid a visit to the wounded lying in the King Hussein Medical Center.[7]

According to Jordanian Minister of the Interior Salameh Hammad, the investigation concluded that Abu Ubayd acted alone.[8]

Victims

Two Jordanians, one South African, and two U.S. nationals were killed in the attack. The wounded included a Lebanese police lieutenant, two U.S. contractors, and three Jordanian police officers.[9]

The two Jordanian translators who were killed were Kamal Malkawi and Awni Aqrabawi.[9] The Americans were James "Damon" Creach (42), from New Tampa, Florida, and Lloyd "Carl" Fields Jr. of Cape Coral, Florida.[10][8] They were employed by DynCorp International. The program they were working on is funded by the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement.[11]

Perpetrator

The gunman was identified as 28-year-old police officer Anwar Mohammed Salama al-Saad Abu Zaid Bani Abdu, while Al-Rai newspaper, the government's official outlet, named the assailant as officer Anwar Abu Ubayd.[6] The perpetrator was with the Jordanian criminal investigation department before he was transferred to the police training academy.[2][12]

Source of weapons

The weapons were stolen from the CIA's Timber Sycamore program.[13]

Possible motive

On 14 November, the Jordanian government held a press conference to discuss the shooting. According to Minister of Interior Affairs Salameh Hammad, the officer was declared a lone wolf, and the motives of the officer were not related to any terrorist organizations but rather to the "financial and psychological problems of the perpetrator".[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "ارتفاع عدد ضحايا الموقر الى ستة". Khaberni (in Arabic). Khaberni. November 10, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Luck, Taylor (November 9, 2015). "Gunman in Jordan kills 5, including 2 Americans, at police training site". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Jordan policeman shoots dead foreign trainers". BBC. November 9, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "تفاصيل حادثة الموقر - صور وفيديو". November 14, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Gov't updating US, South Africa on deadly shooting probe". The Jordan Times. November 11, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Freeman, Colin (November 9, 2015). "Two Americans and a South African shot dead at Jordan security training facility". The Telegraph. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  7. ↑ "الملك يطمئن على مصابي الموقر - صور". November 9, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  8. 1 2 Malkawi, Khetam (November 15, 2015). "Muwaqqar shooting a 'lone wolf attack' — minister". Times of Jordan. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Malkawi, Khetam (November 11, 2015). "'Gov't updating US, South Africa on deadly shooting probe'". Times of Jordan. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  10. ↑ Mettler, Katie (November 10, 2015). "Tampa defense contractor was among 5 killed in shooting rampage by Jordanian police officer". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on November 12, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  11. ↑ Daily star.com.lb 10 November 2015. Lebanon's English language daily newspaper.
  12. ↑ Sweis, Rana (November 9, 2015). "Jordanian Police Officer Kills Five, Including Two Americans". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Jordanian spies stole CIA weapons intended for Syrian rebels". Vice Media Group. June 27, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
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