Jordan court sentences terror cell suspects over 2022 deadly attack

Jordan’s State Security Court on Monday issued verdicts in the high-profile case involving a terrorist cell behind deadly attacks that occurred in December 2022, resulting in the deaths of four security personnel.

The court sentenced the first defendant to death after finding him guilty of carrying out terrorist acts that led to the death of Public Security Directorate officers.

Other defendants were convicted of charges including committing terrorist acts resulting in death, aiding and abetting terrorism, possession of firearms for terrorist purposes, affiliation with a terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, and promoting terrorist ideology.

Sentences for the convicted co-defendants ranged from nine to 20 years in prison with hard labor. The court concluded that they had formed an organized terrorist cell and conspired to carry out attacks against Jordanian security forces using firearms.

One defendant was sentenced to three years in prison for having prior knowledge of the terrorist plot and failing to report it to authorities.

The court acquitted two defendants due to insufficient legal evidence against them.

The attacks, which took place on Dec. 15, 2022, began when armed terrorists opened fire on a Public Security patrol vehicle in Jerash, killing Brig. Gen. Abdulrazzaq Dalaabeh and injuring several others.

Subsequently, on Dec. 19, security forces raided a house where two suspects were hiding. As the security personnel approached, the terrorists opened fire, killing Capt. Ghaith Rahahleh, Lt. Mo'taz Najadah, and Cpl. Ibrahim Al-Shaqareen, and injuring others. The attackers were killed during the ensuing exchange of fire.