Jordan arrests 16 for plotting to target national security, hording arms and manufacturing rockets
Jordan's intelligence service on Tuesday announced the arrests of 16 people for allegedly planning to target national security and sow "chaos", state media reported.
"Jordan's General Intelligence Department (GID) has foiled plans aimed at targeting national security, sowing chaos, and sabotaging within Jordan," the Petra state news agency reported.
"The GID has detained 16 suspects after close intelligence monitoring since 2021," it added.
It said the suspects were arrested for "manufacturing rockets using local tools as well as tools imported for illegal purposes, possession of explosives and firearms, concealing a rocket ready to be deployed, planning to manufacture drones, and recruiting and training operatives in Jordan as well as training them abroad".
The case has been referred to the state security court, Petra added.
Jordan’s government said the accused have political affiliations and belong to what it called “unlicensed groups,” referring to the Muslim Brotherhood. Jordan’s judiciary dissolved the Muslim Brotherhood in 2020.
In a statement Tuesday, the Muslim Brotherhood called the accusations unfair and said it was committed to Jordan’s stability and security. The Muslim Brotherhood is a pan-Arab Islamist political movement with branches in many countries, describing itself as a charitable and political organization, although experts say some branches have apparent ties to militants.
Jordan enjoys relative stability compared with other countries in the region, but has previously announced arrests on national security charges.
In May last year, security services thwarted an attempt by a foreign state-backed militia to smuggle arms to a cell inside the kingdom, an official said at the time.
Source: Agence France Presse, Associated Press
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