‘11 weapons seized, several people arrested at weddings over festive firing’

AMMAN — The Public Security Department (PSD) announced on Sunday that it has seized 11 weapons at various weddings since announcing a stiff campaign last month to curb festive firing.

“The department dealt with 16 cases of live ammunition shooting to celebrate occasions and 11 weapons were seized as a result,” according to a statement by the PSD.

Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani told The Jordan Times that several people were arrested as a result of the PSD campaign.

“Several people were rounded up for shooting live rounds at weddings and were referred to the prosecutor,” Momani said.

No details were available on how many were arrested.

PSD social unit teams, according to the statement, are visiting weddings and handing organisers a card that congratulated families on the wedding and stated that the department is confident of “your awareness not to allow the use of weapons or live ammunition during your wedding, and your knowledge of the laws regarding this matter”.

“Our teams visited 409 weddings where they distributed the cards urging people to refrain from firing live ammunition,” the PSD statement said.

The PSD pledged to continue its campaign against violators at weddings and other occasions.

In August, the department announced stiff measures against violators, including locking up any groom whose wedding includes festive shooting.

The PSD pledged to conduct campaigns in various governorates and arrest any person who owns a gun without a licence and/or arrest people who fire weapons on any occasion, and individuals who sell weapons and ammunition for this purpose.

According to official figures released last October, three people were killed and 41 injured by festive firing in 2014.

At least 21 cases were registered last year against anonymous assailants, where shooters could not be identified, according to the PSD.