Officer killed near embassy in Amman

A security officer was killed in an attack near the Sri Lankan Embassy in Amman, Jordan, on Thursday. Jordanian authorities have classified the incident as a terrorist act. The Public Security Directorate stated that a member of its forces was assaulted with a sharp object and died in what they called a cowardly strike. Preliminary investigations suggest the attacker was specifically planning to target officers from the General Security Directorate.

The assault occurred in the vicinity of the Sri Lankan Embassy, which confirmed the location but did not provide further details. According to state-run Al-Mamlaka TV, the assailant attempted to take the weapon from the officer who was killed. A second security officer stepped in during the confrontation. Both the suspect and the second officer sustained injuries during the struggle.

The attacker has been arrested following the incident. This event follows a series of violent attacks in the region. Just weeks ago, gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a church in southern Jordan. That previous attack resulted in nine deaths and dozens of injuries. The recent violence has drawn attention to the security posture around diplomatic missions in the capital.

Mohamed al-Momani, the Jordanian government spokesperson, posted on X that the prime minister is closely monitoring the response of security services. He described the attack on security personnel while on duty as an assault on the dignity of the state. The prime minister's office is coordinating with security forces to manage the aftermath of the shooting.