3 wanted on terror charges killed in confrontation with security forces

AMMAN — The Public Security Directorate (PSD) on Sunday announced that three wanted individuals who had been previously convicted on terrorism charges were killed following an armed confrontation with a special security force.

According to the PSD spokesperson, the confrontation occurred after the special security force located the three wanted individuals near the Kingdom’s southeastern border. All three were known to be involved in terrorist activities, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Among the individuals were two who had escaped from a correctional and rehabilitation centre a few days earlier, along with a prominent figure in the Husseiniya terrorist cell, responsible for the killing of Col. Abdulrazzaq Al Dalabeeh. 

The third individual, who was the brother of one of the escaped inmates, had several outstanding arrest warrants for other terrorism charges. 

After the two inmates escaped the correctional facility and went into hiding, joint investigation teams, composed of officers from various relevant departments, were formed to apprehend the individuals.

The teams had been working for several days, continuously monitoring and tracking the fugitives, the spokesperson added. The teams raided several potential suspected locations of the fugitives, which eventually led to the discovery of their evasion tactics. 

The fugitives were found to be using a stolen vehicle and moving through uninhabited desert areas in the southeast of the Kingdom.

On Saturday, security forces located the fugitives in a rugged area a few hundred metres from the southeastern border. 

A special security force, equipped to deal with such conditions, was deployed to the area. The team surrounded the location on foot and began a thorough search after the fugitives abandoned their vehicle and sought refuge in the desert, the spokesperson said.

A confrontation ensued when the wanted individuals began firing at the officers using several automatic firearms found in their possession, ultimately resulting in the death of the three individuals.

The bodies were then transported, and all seized items, including one of the automatic firearms used by the terrorists, were collected. 

The identities of the three wanted individuals were confirmed using various methods, including technical and laboratory examinations, including autopsies. The bodies were also presented to the families, who were able to provide positive identification. 

The spokesperson stressed that the committee formed following the escape of the two inmates is continuing its investigations in order to bring any other individual involved in the incident to justice.