Gunman fires on Jordan tourists
Police sealed off the area around the Roman amphitheatre in Amman
A gunman has opened fire on a group of foreign tourists in the Jordanian capital Amman, killing a British man.
The shooting happened at the Roman amphitheatre, a popular attraction.
Five other tourists were injured - two British women as well as tourists from New Zealand, the Netherlands and Australia. The gunman was arrested.
Militants have carried out a series of attacks in Jordan. Sixty people were killed in three suicide bomb attacks on hotels in November 2005.
Interior Minister Eid al-Fayez said the gunman had been arrested and was now being questioned. He said it was not clear yet whether the gunman was acting alone or was a member of any group.
"We as a government and people... regret the incident and hope it is a one-off which will not affect our tourism or security situation," Mr Fayez said.
Overpowered
The attack took place at 1230 local time (0930 GMT).
Eyewitnesses said the attacker, said to be a Jordanian, approached the tourists shouting "God is great" in Arabic before firing at least 12 shots at the small group of tourists.
When his ammunition ran out, the gunman fled into the crowds before being arrested, eyewitnesses said.
The BBC's John Leyne, in Amman, says local people joined in the struggle to overpower him.
The area surrounding the Roman amphitheatre has been sealed off and anti-terrorist police are patrolling the site.
British tourists visiting Jordan are warned by the UK Foreign Office of a "high threat of terrorism", with Westerners being a particular target. Jordan's tourist trade has been badly hit by reaction to the conflict in Lebanon, although tour operators say it remains popular with more adventurous travellers.
The amphitheatre, cut into a steep hill in the centre of Amman, is the Jordanian capital's top tourist attraction.
A gunman has opened fire on foreigners at one of Jordan's top tourist attractions, the Roman amphitheatre in Amman, killing a Briton and injuring five other tourists.
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Anti-terrorism police rushed to the scene of the shooting, suspected of being the latest in a series of attacks by Islamists in Jordan.
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The gunman was captured after running out of ammunition and fleeing the scene, eyewitnesses said.
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The amphitheatre, which holds 6,000 people, is one of the few remnants of the Roman city of Philadelphia and a popular stop on the tourist trial.
news.bbc.co.uk
Police sealed off the area around the Roman amphitheatre in Amman
A gunman has opened fire on a group of foreign tourists in the Jordanian capital Amman, killing a British man.
The shooting happened at the Roman amphitheatre, a popular attraction.
Five other tourists were injured - two British women as well as tourists from New Zealand, the Netherlands and Australia. The gunman was arrested.
Militants have carried out a series of attacks in Jordan. Sixty people were killed in three suicide bomb attacks on hotels in November 2005.
Interior Minister Eid al-Fayez said the gunman had been arrested and was now being questioned. He said it was not clear yet whether the gunman was acting alone or was a member of any group.
"We as a government and people... regret the incident and hope it is a one-off which will not affect our tourism or security situation," Mr Fayez said.
Overpowered
The attack took place at 1230 local time (0930 GMT).
Eyewitnesses said the attacker, said to be a Jordanian, approached the tourists shouting "God is great" in Arabic before firing at least 12 shots at the small group of tourists.
When his ammunition ran out, the gunman fled into the crowds before being arrested, eyewitnesses said.
The BBC's John Leyne, in Amman, says local people joined in the struggle to overpower him.
The area surrounding the Roman amphitheatre has been sealed off and anti-terrorist police are patrolling the site.
British tourists visiting Jordan are warned by the UK Foreign Office of a "high threat of terrorism", with Westerners being a particular target. Jordan's tourist trade has been badly hit by reaction to the conflict in Lebanon, although tour operators say it remains popular with more adventurous travellers.
The amphitheatre, cut into a steep hill in the centre of Amman, is the Jordanian capital's top tourist attraction.
A gunman has opened fire on foreigners at one of Jordan's top tourist attractions, the Roman amphitheatre in Amman, killing a Briton and injuring five other tourists.
-----------------
Anti-terrorism police rushed to the scene of the shooting, suspected of being the latest in a series of attacks by Islamists in Jordan.
-----------------
The gunman was captured after running out of ammunition and fleeing the scene, eyewitnesses said.
---------------
The amphitheatre, which holds 6,000 people, is one of the few remnants of the Roman city of Philadelphia and a popular stop on the tourist trial.
news.bbc.co.uk