Jordanian being questioned in shooting death of Syrian refugee

AMMAN — A Jordanian was being questioned on Monday in connection with the death of a Syrian refugee at a charity society in Mafraq Governorate, according to a Public Security Department (PSD) official.

“The suspect is currently being questioned at the Mafraq Criminal Investigation Department, before being referred to the Criminal Court prosecutor,” PSD Spokesperson Maj. Amer Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

“The Jordanian, in his 50s, used a pistol to shoot the refugee, who was in his 30s,” Sartawi said, adding that the suspect is an employee at the society in Mafraq, some 80km northeast of Amman.

The dispute between the two men was most likely related to aid distribution at the society, he added.

The victim was transferred to Mafraq Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead of his injury, according to Sartawi, who said he did not have information on where the victim received the gunshot wound.

The total number of Syrians residing in the Kingdom has reached around 1.4 million, of whom 637,000 are registered as refugees, according to the Interior Ministry.

Mafraq comes second in terms of hosting the largest number of Syrians as it is home to over 159,000, and Amman tops the list with over 791,000 Syrians, according to official figures.