TerrorismJordan foils al Qaeda terror plot against Western embassies, shopping centers

Jordanian security forces on standby // Source: alaahd.ps

Jordan said its security services have arrested eleven militants who have planned attacks on Western diplomatic missions, shopping malls, and other targets in the capitals Aman.

This was the first terror plot is to be uncovered in Jordan since an al Qaeda bombing attack on three hotels in Amman almost seven years ago killed sixty people. Government spokesman Samih Maayta said the suspects were arrested in the past few days and were in police custody. Maayta said the men had brought in weapons from neighboring Syria, and that al Qaeda operatives in Iraq had helped them manufacture home-made explosives.

The Jordan government statement said that al Qaeda “explosive experts” based in Iraq and elsewhere have assisted the suspects with manufacturingthe explosives.

“They were plotting deadly terror attacks on vital institutions, shopping centers and diplomatic missions,” he said. “They sought to destabilize Jordan. They plotted against Jordan’s national security.”

The plot was said to have been in preparation since June.

Fox News reports that Jordanian intelligence was monitoring the plotters, including their experiments with explosives.

The official told the BBC “this was an al Qaida plot timed for the anniversary of the 9 November attacks on Amman in 2005.” The plotters “had planned to bring TNT explosives and mortar shells from Syria,” state news agency Petra said. The targets included “shopping centers, residential areas, diplomats, and foreign nationals”.

Jordan border Syria and is home at least 200,000 Syrian refugees who have fled the conflict, more than any other country in the region.