Jordan: Jihadis Slaughter Western Tourists at Popular Medieval Castle Built by Crusaders, 7 Dead

Jihadis slaughter tourists and police at the ancient crusader castle Al Karak, a popular tourist attraction, in Jordan (below).

A Christmas holiday in Jordan. How very bold.

A Canadian woman was among seven killed as gunmen target tourists and police at castle in Jordan. Heavily armed, the devout Muslim fighters opened fire after taking hostages at the castle in Karak, which was built during the Crusades and is popular with Western tourists. Westerrners who dare to visit Muslim countries (during Christmas, no less) are taking their lives in their hands. It’s just the way it is. Until Islam is purged of its violent texts and teachings and the Quran expunged of its incitement to hate of the unbeliever and jihad, their holy war will only escalate and the death toll climb.

They are not going away no matter how much government, academic and political elites pretend that they don’t exist. “Extremists,” indeed.

Entrance to Karak castle Canadian woman among seven killed as gunmen target tourists and police at castle in Jordan

A CANADIAN woman was amongst at least seven holidaymakers and police officers killed when gunmen stormed a castle in Jordan and took hostages today.

By Nick Gutteridge, The Express, December 18, 2016

Gunmen have taken hostages at Karak Castle in Jordan

A heavily armed gang opened fire after taking hostages at the castle in Karak, which was built during the Crusades and is popular with Western tourists.

Officials said that a Canadian woman, four members of the Jordanian security services and two local civilians were killed in the atrocity.

According to police the gang launched gun attacks in several different parts of the ancient city, before fleeing to the medieval castle being pursued by police.

Once inside they took tourists there hostage and engaged in a gun battle with security services.

Police have freed 10 people from the ancient stone fortress, including a number of foreign tourists, but others are still being held captive by the gunmen.

According to reports police responding to fake reports of a house fire in the city were ambushed by the group of gunmen, who opened fire on them as they entered the property.

After two officers were wounded the gang fled by car and attacked another security patrol, but nobody was injured in that skirmish.

They then fled to Karak castle, where they holed up and took the terrified tourists hostages.

Police engage with gunmen at Karak CastleTwitter/@RamiAILoIah
Gunmen have attacked a police station located at the castle

A Jordanian military vehicle moves in on Karak castleTwitter/@RamiAILoIah
Jordanian security services have called in extra reinforcements to battle the group

Dramatic footage uploaded to social media showed Jordanian security personnel surrounding the ancient fortress and engaging in a gun battle with the group.

Jordanian prime minister Hani Mulki, who was addressing parliament at the time of the attacks, said 10 gunmen were involved and “a number of security personnel” had been killed.

In a statement the country’s Public Security Directorate added: “Police and security forces have surrounded the castle and its vicinity and launched an operation to hunt down the gunmen.”

The identity of the attackers was not immediately clear, and no group has yet claimed responsibility for the bloody atrocity.

The attack is another big blow to the pro-Western kingdom, which has tried to portray itself as an oasis of calm in a region threatened by Islamic extremists.

Before the rise of Islamic State (ISIS) Jordan was a popular tourist spot with Westerners, boasting stunning medieval and classical sites including the city of Petra.

But numbers of visitors have dropped off significantly following the outbreak of a brutal civil war in neighbouring Syria and amid Islamist attacks in countries like Turkey and Egypt.