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U.S.-owned hotels targeted in Amman

Atul Aneja

Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for suicide attacks; most of the victims are Jordanians

DUBAI: The Al-Qaeda in Iraq has claimed responsibility for the serial bombings that targeted three hotels in Amman, killing 57 persons and injuring 300 more.

According to a statement posted on the Internet, the Al-Qaeda in Iraq, led by Jordanian born militant Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi said, "Some hotels were chosen which the Jordanian despot had turned into a backyard for the enemies of the faith — the Jews and crusaders."

Three U.S. owned hotels — Grand Hyatt, Radisson and Days Inn — were hit in the near simultaneous blasts.

Maximum damage

Maximum damage was caused in the Radisson hotel where a suicide bomber blew himself up when a wedding party was under way. Most of the killed were Jordanians, but foreigners also suffered casualties.

These included two high-ranking Palestinian officials — Maj Gen. Bashir Nafeh, head of military intelligence in the West Bank, and Col. Abed Allun, a Preventive Security forces official. The Palestinian representative in Jordan said both died in the Hyatt hotel attack. One American, a Swiss national and five Germans were also injured.

King Abdullah II cut short a visit to Kazakhstan and returned to Jordan. He headed a meeting of his security chiefs and said, "Justice will pursue the criminals." The Government declared a day of national mourning for the victims.

Security has been tightened around Amman, while Jordan's borders have been sealed. Jordan shares land borders with Iraq, Syria, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Inside Amman, roadblocks have been set up around hotels and embassies, and all public offices and schools were closed on Thursday.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has postponed a scheduled visit to Jordan.

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