Jordan Suicide Bombings at Hotels (updated 11/10)
By Andrew Cochran
LAST UPDATE AT 10:00 am ET on 11/10. Three near-simultaneous suicide bombings at three Western hotels in Amman with no prior warning of threat - first suicide bombings in Jordan - death toll numbers still differ on news sites - 11/10 AP story cites Jordanian spokesman: at least 56 dead and over 115 wounded, apparently most of them Jordanians. UPDATE 11/10: At least one American dead. - suicide bomber walked into wedding party at Radisson and set off bomb and other bombs also set off inside hotels - all Jordanian borders are shut down. CNBC report: Security guards found car with explosives at fourth hotel. Fox News cites Al-Arabiya that 3 Iraq national arrested, but no corroboration. Steven Emerson on MSNBC: Hyatt Hotel had 24/7 camera coverage and they might have already identified the Hyatt suicide bomber with help of witness. Past failed plot targeted hotel there; Jordan has best intel and working relationship with US of Arab countries in area - Steve will be on NBC "Today" Show Thursday at 7 am ET - Walid Phares on MSNBC: suicide bombers use enticements offered by jihadists - Jordanian security services are good but can't stop Al Qaeda and affiliated jihadists; jihadists used Jordan as "safe haven" but apparently concluded Jordan should now be target; this tarnishes Jordan's image of stability and begins "difficult time" for Jordan. Al-Zarqawi the primary suspect; a native Jordanian and already sentenced to death in absentia there - police already detaining possible suspects. Evan Kohlmann among the premier experts in the world on Al-Zarqawi; see his Iraq leadership chart, his post on Al Qaeda's attempted rocket attack on U.S. warships in Aqaba on August 19, and other information on his site - Matthew Levitt and associate Julie Sawyer wrote last year on "Zarqawi's Jordanian Agenda" on AZ's leading role in terrorism in Jordan. CNN cites U.S. CT officials saying recent turnover of Jordanian officials might have given terrorists room to attack. Mirrors the timed multiple bombings in Bali, New Delhi, and Sharm-el-Sheikh, but 2 of 3 Amman bombings were "walk-ins" and not by auto. If you need information about loved ones who were possibly there, call the State Department line at 888-407-4747.
Pictures from news sites & MSNBC map of area:
