Gag order bans coverage of GID office attack

AMMAN— The government on Tuesday issued a gag order banning the publication of any reports about Monday’s attack on the Baqaa office of the General Intelligence Department (GID).

Jordan Media Commission Director General Amjad Qadi  circulated the order to all media outlets. The ban covers social media, websites and news outlets. The gag order seeks “to protect the secrecy of the investigation”, according to the circular, a copy of which was sent to The Jordan Times.

Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani said the order will be lifted once the investigation is complete and the case is referred to the State Security Court. 

The GID on Monday arrested the main suspect in the attack, in which five intelligence personnel were killed, including three non-commissioned officers who were guarding the office, Momani said. 

The minister said preliminary information indicates that the attack was a lone-wolf incident but that investigations were still ongoing, adding that the GID has taken a series of security measures since dawn on Monday that led to the suspect’s arrest.