Police arrest one of two suspects in armed gas station robbery

AMMAN — Police on Tuesday said that they have arrested a suspect and are looking for a second man who allegedly robbed a gas station at gunpoint in the Jordan Valley earlier in the day.

The suspects escaped with JD1,700 after robbing the gas station in Northern Shouneh, Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

“The two suspects attacked one of the workers with a blunt object while pumping gas,” Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

The police official added that “one of the suspects drew a gun and demanded cash from the assaulted employee, and the two got away with JD1,700”.

No others were injured during the robbery, Sartawi said, describing the gas station employee’s injury as “minor”.

“A special investigation team was immediately tasked with following up on the robbery, and they were able to collect evidence that was linked to a known suspect,” Sartawi explained.

The team “raided the premises where the suspect was hiding and arrested him without any major incident,” Sartawi said.

“The suspect confessed to robbing the gas station with the help of another man, who remains at large,” the police official said, adding that police retrieved a portion of the stolen cash.

The suspect will be referred to the State Security Court (SSC) prosecution office for further questioning and indictment, according to a Public Security Directorate (PSD) statement.

If convicted of the charges, which include armed theft, as well as endangering public safety, disturbing public order, spreading fear among citizens and jeopardising economic resources, the suspect could receive a 15-year prison term.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing, according to the PSD statement.

“The investigation teams are working hard to locate the second suspect and bring him to justice,” Sartawi said.