Cops in Jordan shoot dead four ‘terrorists’ in dramatic end to standoff with gunmen hiding in ruins of Crusader-era castle
Jordanian authorities say explosives, automatic weapons and suicide vests were also found inside the attackers' hideout
COPS in Jordan have killed four 'terrorist' gunmen after they massacred a female Canadian tourist and nine others in a series of attacks earlier today.
Authorities say their standoff with the attackers - who were hiding in the city's Crusader-era castle - has now ended following a dramatic raid.
The incident occurred today in the Jordanian city of Karak when the gunmen opened fire on police patrols.
Earlier police had freed ten people from the castle, including foreign tourists, but some remained trapped inside.
Tonight Jordanian security forces said the siege had ended with the death of four "terrorist outlaws" after they were flushed out of the castle.
An official statement said the four assailants, who shot at police targets in the town before heading to the Crusader-era castle, carried automatic weapons.
Large quantities of explosives, weapons and suicide belts were seized in a hideout, it added. The statement made no mention of their identity or whether they belonged to any militant group.
Earlier a senior security source said some people were trapped in a lower floor of the citadel when the gunmen took shelter, but denied media reports that they were being held as hostages.
"There are no hostages. But some people who were on a lower floor were afraid of leaving as the gunmen traded fire with the security forces," said the source who did not wish to be identified.
At least 27 other people were injured in the attack by the unidentified gunmen.
Five or six gunmen were said to be involved in the shootings, but Jordanian Prime Minister Hani al-Malki, who was addressing parliament at the time of the attacks, claimed it was ten.
Dramatic videos from the scene showed hostages fleeing from the castle and heavily armed police swarming the area.
The first attack took place when a police patrol went to check on a fire that had broken out in a house in Karak.
Officials said: "As soon as they reached the area, unknown gunmen who were inside the house opened fire on the patrol, wounding a policeman, and then fled by car.
"Shortly afterwards, gunmen opened fire on another patrol without causing any casualties," it added.
At the same time, gunmen holed up in the Crusader castle opened fire on the Karak police station, wounding several policemen and passers-by" who were rushed to hospital, the statement added.
A former government minister from Karak city, Sameeh Maaytah, said there were signs Islamist militants may have been behind the attack but the government has so far steered away from saying this.
The Canadian government confirmed one of its nationals had been killed.
Jordan is one of the few Arab states that have taken part in a U.S.-led air campaign against Islamic State militants holding territory in Syria.
It has carried out air strikes targeting IS jihadists and hosts coalition troops on its territory.
But many Jordanians oppose their country's involvement, saying it had killed fellow Muslims and raised security threats inside Jordan.
Officials worry about radical Islam's growing profile in Jordan and support in impoverished areas for militant groups.
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