Yarmouk University expels 22 students over riots

AMMAN — Yarmouk University on Sunday expelled 22 students who took part in riots on same day that resulted in damaging university property, injuries and spread panic on campus.

University President Abdullah Al Musa described the incident as a “terror” act, as those involved in it wore masks and were holding "actual swords". They also attempted to take one of the students as “hostage”.

The fight at the Irbid based university, 80km north of Amman, first started on Thursday between two groups of students from two districts in the north, Musa told The Jordan Times over the phone.

However, the university administration was “shocked” on Sunday morning that groups of masked people, some of whom were from outside the university, where over 34,000 students are enrolled, entered campus illegally and were moving from one faculty to another, threatening students with swords and other weapons.

“Campus security guards could not control the fight and we had to call the police to deal with those coming from outside,” Musa said, adding that the council of deans met later in the day to investigate the issue and took the decision to “completely” expel the involved students.

Identifying the involved students was based on testimonies by university security and the police, he noted.

“This is a final decision and we will not accept any interference to go back on it.”

Three were injured in the incident including two students, one of whom is female, and a security guard.

“They were hospitalised and their injuries are not serious,” Musa said.

The Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported that police are questioning 14 suspects from outside the university who were detained over their involvement in the riots.