Suspect in GID office killings arrested

Initial information suggests isolated incident, spokesperson says

AMMAN – The main suspect involved in the attack on the Baqaa office of the General Intelligence Department (GID) was arrested Monday night, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani announced. 

In a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Momani said the GID arrested the primary suspect, who allegedly killed five GID personnel early Monday. 

The minister said preliminary information indicates that the attack was a lone-wolf incident and that investigations were still ongoing, adding that the GID has taken a series of security measures since the early morning of Monday that led to the arrest of the suspect who carried out the terrorist attack. 

The arrest of the suspect “is another testament to the efficiency of the GID and other security agencies and their ability to deal with any attempt that aims at undermining the security and stability of the Kingdom,” Momani said.

The officers were killed in the attack on the department’s office located outside the Palestinian refugee camp of Baqaa.

The victims include three non-commissioned officers who were guarding the agency.

They were identified as Sergeant Loay Zyoud, Corporal Hani Qaaideh, Corporal Omar Hiyari, Private Ahmad Abdul Karim Harahsheh and Lance Corporal Mahmoud Awamleh.

They were all laid to rest following afternoon prayers in their native towns and villages.

Photos purportedly showing the suspect went viral on social media networks late Monday, with claims that the man was apprehended in a mosque basement outside Amman governorate.

The terrorist attack drew angry reactions from Jordanians from all walks of life.

World leaders and governments expressed sympathy with Jordan and the families of the victims.

In a phone call with His Majesty King Abdullah, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his condolences over the death of the intelligence officers and condemned the attack. France also expressed its condemnation of the attack, stressing its support for the Kingdom against terror.

Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Abdullatif Al Zayani condemned the attack on Monday and voiced the council’s support for Jordan in any measure it takes to preserve the security and safety of its residents, offering his condolences to the families of the victims.

The Organisation for Islamic Cooperation also condemned the attack in a statement carried by Petra, describing it as a “heinous” and “criminal” act of terror. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh received a telephone call from his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukri, in which he condemned the “cowardly terror act” and expressed his condolences to Jordan’s government and people, stressing that Egypt stands with Jordan in the face of terrorism.

Judeh also received a phone call from his Saudi counterpart, Adel Al Jubeir, in which the Saudi minister condemned the attack and expressed Riyadh’s solidarity with Jordan.

The minister also received a letter from British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Philip Hammond.

Hammond expressed his condolences to Jordan and stressed that his country’s support for the Kingdom in the fight against terrorism.

Qatar also denounced the attack and expressed its solidarity with Jordan.

The United Arab Emirates and the Arab League issued similar condemnations.

The Senate condemned the terror attack, stressing in a statement carried by Petra that selecting first day of Ramadan to execute the attack indicates that terrorists, “have nothing to do with Islam”. 

The statement said such acts bring Jordanians closer rather than divide them, calling for formulating an international strategy to combat terrorism around the world through preaching “enlightened ideologies” and reason.

The senators also extended their condolences to the families of the victims, noting that the terrorists responsible for the attack will be pursued and punished. 

Senate President Faisal Fayez received a cable from Kuwait National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al Ghanim, in which he extended his condolences to Jordanians and stressed the Gulf country’s solidarity with the Kingdom.

Civil society institutions, political parties and senior officials also condemned the attack and stressed that such incidents unite Jordanians against extremism.