Amman stabbing: one officer dead, another wounded

A Jordanian police officer died of his wounds on Thursday after being stabbed in the capital Amman, in what the Public Security Directorate described as a “cowardly terrorist act.”

The attacker stabbed a public security officer at midday, the directorate said. The officer was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries. A second officer who came to his aid was wounded before the assailant was arrested.

Authorities did not immediately disclose the attacker’s identity or motive.

The attack comes amid heightened security tensions in Jordan. 

Last month, a deadly assault on a church killed seven people, prompting the kingdom to tighten security nationwide and launch airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Syria. Jordanian forces have since reported several attempts by armed groups to cross the border from Syria.