Gag order issued in elderly home fire case

AMMAN — The Amman’s General Attorney office on Sunday issued a gag order restricting the publication of any news related to the elderly resident who allegedly set fire to the White Beds Society Guest House for the Elderly that left seven people dead.

The suspect was charged with arson that resulted in fatalities and misdemeanours causing injury related to the fire that broke out at dawn on Friday on the first floor of the facility which is located in the Jweideh area.

Starting Sunday, the media and social media platforms are banned from publishing any news, photos or video clips related to the arson at the elderly facility, Director General of the Media Commission Bashir Momani said in a statement released to the press.

The ban is based on Amman's General Attorney's office's request, Momani stated.

The suspect was ordered detained for 15 days pending further investigations into the incident that left 60 injured.

Six people perished on Friday due to smoke inhalation when the fire broke out in the facility, according to police officials.

A seventh resident died on Saturday, health officials confirmed.

All 111 residents were evacuated by Civil Defence Department rescue personnel and rushed to nearby hospitals.

Sixty of the 111 residents were transported to hospitals for treatment while the remaining inhabitants were relocated to alternative shelters by the Ministry of Social Development.

Initial investigations indicated that “the fire was allegedly started by one of the residents,” according to police officials.

The investigations also revealed that the fire extinguishing system that was installed at the guest house, which was established in 1979, was working properly at the time of the fire.

Investigations are ongoing by the relevant authorities.