A security officer died and another sustained injuries following a stabbing attack in the Jordanian capital of Amman on Thursday. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate confirmed the death of one of its personnel and described the incident as a cowardly terrorist attack involving a sharp object.
State-run Al-Mamlaka TV reported that the assailant attempted to seize the weapon from the officer who was ultimately killed. A second security officer intervened during the assault. Both the attacker and the second officer sustained injuries in the struggle, according to Al-Mamlaka.
Preliminary findings from the Public Security Directorate indicated that the perpetrator planned to target officers from the General Security Directorate. Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Amman reported that medical personnel transported the injured security officer and the wounded assailant to a hospital, while authorities launched an investigation.
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Amman confirmed that the violence occurred near its diplomatic mission, according to the Associated Press.
This violent episode follows a deadly incident weeks earlier where gunmen opened fire during a church funeral in southern Jordan. That previous attack left nine people dead and dozens wounded, prompting subsequent Jordanian strikes in Syria. Officials have not yet established a link between the church shooting and the latest stabbing in the capital.
After the earlier church attack, King Abdullah stated on Monday that terrorists would not be permitted to threaten the security and unity of the country.
