Suspects in attack on family, death of child apprehended

AMMAN — Police announced the arrest of all eight suspects who reportedly attacked a family of four during a wedding procession in Mafraq earlier in the month resulting in the death of a child last week, official sources said.

“All eight suspects, who were part of the wedding procession, are in police custody and have been referred to the Criminal Court prosecutor for questioning,” Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

The suspects were charged with assult, which caused the death of an individual, according to Sartawi.

The incident, which occurred on September 13, involved a family of four who were in a vehicle driving near a wedding procession when they were allegedly attacked by the suspects, Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

The three-year-old child, Hashem Kurdi, died in hospital on Wednesday as a result of wounds he sustained from the alleged attack, the police official added.

Several photos went viral showing a vehicle with broken windows and a social media user said it belonged to the family.

Her Majesty Queen Rania Tweeted about the incident saying “can we accept to see mothers grieving during our celebrations? Do we stand doing nothing while a child is being killed while in the company of his parents? Did they realise the ugliness of their crime? May your soul rest in peace Hashem”.

Social media users voiced their outrage about the incident following news of the child’s death.

Nabeel Muhtaseb wrote on Facebook: “This should become a public opinion case and the people involved should be charged with premeditated murder. They should not be allowed to benefit from any reduction so that people will feel safer while on the roads.”

Mohammmad Yasmin called for preventing wedding and other celebratory processions in Jordan because it is “old traditions that hinder traffic and cause harm to others”.

A committee comprising of various officials from the police and gendarmerie forces was formed to investigate the incident, according to a statement by the Public Security Department (PSD).

“The committee is tasked with investigating the incident and the role [of] a police patrol that was stationed on the side road nearby where the alleged incident occurred,” the PSD statement said.

The victim’s father appeared on a television channel shortly after the incident occurred and claimed that several vehicles from the wedding procession chased him and while driving away he saw a police patrol stationed in the area. He said that he asked for their help but they did not interfere and eventually his vehicle and family were attacked by a group of men.