Kamal Malkawi, victim of Monday’s shooting, laid to rest

ZARQA — Kamal Malkawi, who was among the victims of Monday’s shooting at a police training facility in east Amman, was laid to rest in Zarqa’s Hashemiyeh cemetery on Tuesday. 

Interior Minister Salameh Hammad, who deputised for His Majesty King Abdullah, and Public Security Department (PSD) Director Maj. Gen. Atef Saudi joined around 150 relatives and friends of Malkawi at the funeral. “This is an awful incident, but it is fate, preordained by God,” Malkawi’s father, Ahmad, told The Jordan Times at the cemetery.   

In addition to Malkawi, one Jordanian, two Americans and one South African who were PSD contractors were killed in the shooting, which also injured six people.

A statement issued by the Malkawi tribe and carried by local news website Khaberni said the deceased was 35.

He was reportedly working as a translator with the PSD.

Describing Malkawi as one of the country’s soldiers Hammad said the shooting was a painful incident. 

“In Jordan’s history, the country has been subjected to many crises,” he told reporters. “It is expected that Jordan would witness such incidents, but God willing, this will be the last one. This incident shows that criminal activity will not leave Jordan, but the Kingdom is ready to stand against anyone who wants to endanger its security,” he added.  

Saudi said security personnel and the Jordanian people will stand against those seeking to threaten the Kingdom’s security.  

Hammad said an investigation into the incident is ongoing and the results might be available this week.

Former chairman of the joint chiefs-of-staff retired Gen. Mohammad Yousef Malkawi spoke on behalf of the tribe at the funeral, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Jordanians, he said, will remain united in their efforts to safeguard their homeland and combat extremism.