Jordan: Jordanian Charged with 'Terrorist Acts' for Stabbing Security Officer, Injuring Another

The Public Prosecution at Jordan’s State Security Court on Wednesday charged a Jordanian national with “committing terrorist acts” for stabbing a security officer to death and injuring another in front of the Sri Lankan embassy in Amman.

The Attorney General at the State Security Court announced in a statement the conclusion of “all investigative procedures” related to the “terrorist act targeting General Security officers in Amman, which resulted in the martyrdom of Corporal Jawad Al-Salayta and the injury of Captain Firas Al-Anaza.”

Al-Salayta was killed and Al-Anaza was injured last Thursday in a stabbing incident that occurred in front of the Sri Lankan embassy in Amman. The perpetrator was arrested immediately after Al-Anaza subdued him.

According to the Attorney General, the perpetrator faces two charges: “committing terrorist acts resulting in death” and “committing terrorist acts using a weapon.”

Under the law, a conviction for the first charge can carry the death penalty.

Authorities have not officially released the perpetrator’s name or any details about him, but images and video clips captured by nearby surveillance cameras before the stabbing were circulated on social media.

Users accompanying the images and clips identified the man as “Muhannad Al-Hamouri,” providing information that he is a former prisoner convicted of terrorism who had recently completed his sentence. A judicial source, who requested anonymity, confirmed this to AFP.

The stabbing incident comes about two weeks after a rare attack in Jordan, carried out by three individuals against a church in the village of Hamoud in Karak (approximately 120 kilometers south of Amman), which killed nine people and injured more than 25 others.