Police in hunt for husband, son of MP for festive firing — source

AMMAN — Police on Saturday said they were searching for the husband and son of a deputy who allegedly fired live ammunition during a wedding in Naour last Wednesday.

The announcement came after a video of a wedding reception went viral showing the two men firing live rounds during the festivity, a security source said. 

"A warrant was issued against the two men and all our police units and patrols were instructed to arrest them once they are found," the source told The Jordan Times on condition of anonymity.

The official would not disclose the name of the deputy either.

The source stressed that the Public Security Department (PSD) will not tolerate any individual or group who use weapons and live ammunition in celebrations.

Last week, the PSD announced stiff measures against violators, including locking up any groom whose wedding includes festive shooting.

“The groom will spend his honeymoon in prison if shooting occurs during his wedding to celebrate the occasion,” Public Security Department Director Maj. Gen. Atef Saudi told Amen FM, the PSD radio.

Saudi urged the public to call 911 and report any shooting incident that occurs at a wedding party near them “and we will be there”.

Saudi’s remarks came a few days after a video of a child being shot and killed during a wedding in Irbid’s Huwara town was extensively shared on social media, triggering public outrage.

The footage showed a man reloading a gun and shooting in the air during a wedding, and in another attempt to reload the gun that was pointed towards two children standing next to him, a bullet was discharged, striking one of them.

The bullet struck the six-year-old victim in the chest and he died instantly.

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 in any occasion, and individuals who sell weapons and ammunition for this purpose.

Policemen will be present undercover in weddings to identify and arrest violators, the PSD announced.

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.