Two Americans, One South African, Shot Dead By Policeman In Jordan

The victims were contractors at a base used to train police in Eastern Amman. The assailant is believed to have been a policeman, who also died following the incident.

Three security contractors, including two Americans and a South African, were killed at a police training facility southeast of Amman, Jordan, a government spokesman told state media.

A June 2013 file photo shows U.S. Iraqi and Jordanian special operations forces conducting manouvres at the the King Abdullah Special Operations Training Center.

Maya Alleruzzo / AP

Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad Momani told the Petra News Agency that a Jordanian police officer opened fire on their trainers and colleagues Monday, before being shot dead by police.

However, an anonymous security source told Reuters the attacker had killed himself.

Four Jordanians were injured, including one critically, Momani said. Two other Americans were also injured, he said.

He added an investigation is underway to ascertain the motives behind the shooting.

In a statement, U.S. embassy staff in Jordan said it had received reports of a "security incident" at the Jordan International Police Training Center southeast of Amman.

"We urge individuals to please avoid that area for the time being," staff said. "Please monitor the news for further developments and maintain security awareness."

Iraqi Police being trained at the Jordan International Police Training Center in 2005.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Described by the State Department as a "modern, 600-acre facility located 45 miles from Amman," the center was established in 2004 to train Iraqi police under an agreement between the U.S. and Jordan.

The two nations wrote of their desire "to continue the training of Iraqi police in Jordan to provide a secure training facility, a curriculum of instruction in police skills, a cadre of multinational instructors, and logistic support for Iraqi police cadets and trainers."

The center has also been used to train Palestinian Authority security personnel, according to the State Department.

"The training center is now internationally accredited and trains regional and international law enforcement personnel from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Tunisia, and plans to train more participants from other countries in the future," the State Department said in a 2011 report.

---

View Entire List ›

SOURCE: BuzzFeed