Triple Jordan hotel blasts kill 57

AMMAN – Iraq’s al Qaeda group claimed responsibility yesterday for suspected suicide bombings on luxury hotels in US ally Jordan that killed 57 people and wounded 110.

In Wednesday night’s synchronised attacks, two bombs exploded while crowds were celebrating weddings, leaving blood and destruction at Amman’s luxury Grand Hyatt hotel and the nearby Radisson SAS. A third blast targeted a Days Inn hotel.Al Qaeda in Iraq, led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, said in a statement on an Islamist website that “a group of our best lions” had launched the attacks in Jordan.”Some hotels were chosen which the Jordanian despot had turned into a backyard for the enemies of the faith, the Jews and crusaders,” said the message signed by the group’s spokesman.Its authenticity could not be verified.Police said they thought the blasts were the work of suicide bombers.Simultaneous attacks are an al Qaeda hallmark and US officials said they suspected the network was to blame.Jordan’s King Abdullah blamed a “deviant and misled group” for the blasts.”The attacks targeted and killed innocent Jordanian civilians,” the king, whose country is bordered by Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Israel, said in a statement.Al Qaeda in Iraq’s statement said:”Let the tyrant of Amman know that his protection…for the Jews has become a target for the mujahideen and their attacks, and let him expect the worst.”Jordan is one of two Arab countries that have signed peace treaties with Israel.It helped the United States in the war on Iraq, where Zarqawi’s group is part of an anti-US insurgency.Jordan had so far been spared major attacks on foreigners despite its proximity to Iraq and popularity as a tourist destination, but the authorities had been braced for trouble.”The initial investigations so far show that the blasts that caused the deaths of 57 people and wounded 110 people had been executed by explosive devices and suicide bombings,” said a statement issued by the Jordanian cabinet.Interior Minister Awni Yarfas told Reuters the bombs at the hotels, all run by US chains, were timed to detonate almost simultaneously.Jordan closed its borders to try to stop suspects fleeing and a security official said scores of people had been arrested.Deputy Prime Minister Marwan al-Muasher said most of the victims were Jordanians, but China said three Chinese were among those killed.A Palestinian diplomat said a senior Palestinian officer and two other officials were among the dead.Schools, businesses and government offices closed as the stunned kingdom prepared to bury the dead.Police and troops threw up roadblocks around hotels and embassies in Amman.- Nampa-ReutersA third blast targeted a Days Inn hotel.Al Qaeda in Iraq, led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, said in a statement on an Islamist website that “a group of our best lions” had launched the attacks in Jordan.”Some hotels were chosen which the Jordanian despot had turned into a backyard for the enemies of the faith, the Jews and crusaders,” said the message signed by the group’s spokesman.Its authenticity could not be verified.Police said they thought the blasts were the work of suicide bombers.Simultaneous attacks are an al Qaeda hallmark and US officials said they suspected the network was to blame.Jordan’s King Abdullah blamed a “deviant and misled group” for the blasts.”The attacks targeted and killed innocent Jordanian civilians,” the king, whose country is bordered by Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Israel, said in a statement.Al Qaeda in Iraq’s statement said:”Let the tyrant of Amman know that his protection…for the Jews has become a target for the mujahideen and their attacks, and let him expect the worst.”Jordan is one of two Arab countries that have signed peace treaties with Israel.It helped the United States in the war on Iraq, where Zarqawi’s group is part of an anti-US insurgency.Jordan had so far been spared major attacks on foreigners despite its proximity to Iraq and popularity as a tourist destination, but the authorities had been braced for trouble.”The initial investigations so far show that the blasts that caused the deaths of 57 people and wounded 110 people had been executed by explosive devices and suicide bombings,” said a statement issued by the Jordanian cabinet.Interior Minister Awni Yarfas told Reuters the bombs at the hotels, all run by US chains, were timed to detonate almost simultaneously.Jordan closed its borders to try to stop suspects fleeing and a security official said scores of people had been arrested.Deputy Prime Minister Marwan al-Muasher said most of the victims were Jordanians, but China said three Chinese were among those killed.A Palestinian diplomat said a senior Palestinian officer and two other officials were among the dead.Schools, businesses and government offices closed as the stunned kingdom prepared to bury the dead.Police and troops threw up roadblocks around hotels and embassies in Amman.- Nampa-Reuters