Daesh terror plot targeting GID HQ in Irbid foiled

AMMAN — The General Intelligence Department (GID) foiled a Daesh terrorist plot targeting the GID headquarters in Irbid in March of this year.

Al Rai Arabic daily on Monday said that the case includes three suspects, according to the indictment issued by the State Security Court (SSC). Two of them will face charges of conspiring to commit a terrorist act, and all three suspects will face charges of promoting the ideology of a terrorist group, according to the indictment.  

Al Rai added that the suspects are Daesh supporters who spread its ideology. They have been previously referred to the SSC for cases involved with promoting the ideology of a terrorist group and attempts to join armed groups and terrorist organisations. The suspects were convicted in these past cases. 

Al Rai said that the first suspect was released from prison at the beginning of this year before he planned to target the GID building in Irbid. 

After his release, the suspect purchased a weapon to execute the operation. He planned to wait for the second suspect, who was still in prison, to send supporters of Daesh to assist him in the attack, according to Al Rai. 

The daily added that the first suspect had met with the third suspect multiple times and exchanged information about Daesh.

The third suspect continued to promote the Daeshi deology among his friends, aiming to convince them of the terrorist group with news and messages. 

The GID’s intelligence efforts prevented the operation’s execution. GID authorities arrested the first suspect on March 3, 2021, thus foiling the terrorist attack.

The GID foiled another similar terrorist plot earlier, in February 2020, where two suspects also aimed to attack an Irbid security centre with firearms, Al Rai noted.