Three members of the Jordanian security forces died during the dismantling of a “terrorist cell” in the south of the kingdom, of which a member, responsible for the death of an officer last week, was killed, police said on Monday Jordanian.
A senior police official, Colonel Abdelrazzak Al-Dalabih, was shot dead on Friday during protests in Maan, 218 kilometers south of Amman, against rising fuel prices.
According to the Jordanian police, “three members of the security forces were killed and five others were injured on Monday during an operation targeting a terrorist cell, including the person responsible for the death of Colonel Al-Dalabih”.
The security forces “encircled the place where the suspects were, who opened fire” on the police. They fought back, police said in a statement.
The operation allowed “the arrest of nine people, including four brothers of the terrorist killed”, “who were in possession of firearms”, indicated the police, specifying that the man killed was a follower of the ideology of “takfiris”, a term for members of radical jihadist organizations.
Jordanian authorities announced on Saturday the arrest of 44 people for participating in protests against rising fuel prices.
They had accused “groups of vandals and outlaws” of leading the riots in Maan governorate, where Colonel Al-Dalabih was shot dead.
King Abdullah II had said that a firm response would be given to “anyone who uses a weapon against the state”.
The strikes and demonstrations began ten days ago with a movement of truck drivers, followed by taxi drivers, and affected several provinces in the south of the country.
Protesters sometimes blocked roads with burning tires and scuffles pitted them against security forces.
Fuel prices have almost doubled in Jordan compared to last year, especially those of diesel, generally used by trucks and buses, and kerosene, the main heating fuel.