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Woman held for Jordan blast

Atul Aneja

DUBAI: Jordanian security forces have arrested a woman who was allegedly the fourth member of the suicide squad that targeted three American-owned hotels in Amman.

Deputy Prime Minister, Marwan Muasher identified the woman as Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi. The 35-year-old was unable to detonate her explosives inside the wedding hall of the Radisson hotel because the suicide belt malfunctioned.

Sajida was married to Al-Shamari, who blew himself up inside the Radisson hotel.

The couple had entered the wedding hall, dressed as guests. Sajida was supposed to blow herself up first, but Al-Shamari asked her to leave after noticing that she was struggling with the primer cord of her explosives belt, Mr. Muasher said.

Sajida was also the sister of Jordanian-born militant leader Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi's key aide, who was killed in Fallujah. Mr. Muasher showed reporters photographs of a suicide bomb belt packed with ball bearings, which he said she was wearing at the time of the attack.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that Sajida would make a statement on Jordanian television later in the day.

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