Jordan: tourists taken hostages in Crusader-era castle with gunmen

Unidentified gunmen have killed about seven people and injured more than nine during the attacks on several police patrols in the southern Jordanian city of Al-Karak.

Other tourists were reported to be taken as hostages inside a medieval castle with between six (or more) of the gunmen who took refuge there after the shootings.

It was reported: “Police and security forces have surrounded the castle (the Crusader-era castle) and its vicinity and launched an operation to hunt down the gunmen”.

At the moment, several hostages have managed to be released. According to preliminary reports, these gunmen may be radical Islamists.