Gunman fires on tourists

Late on 16 July 2008, a gunman opened fire on a group of foreigners near the Roman amphitheater in the Hasimiyah Square area of downtown Amman. The incident occurred at approximately 2300 local time (2000 UTC), following a concert by the Amman symphony orchestra and a Lebanese choir at the amphitheater (which is a popular location with foreign tourists). The gunman fired on a bus carrying musicians, injuring six people (including four Lebanese, an Arab-Israeli and a Jordanian bus driver). The attacker, who has been identified as a 19-year old resident of the al-Baqaa Palestinian refugee camp -- the largest refugee camp in Jordan located on the outskirts of Amman -- fled the scene when police officers gave chase and attempted suicide; some reports indicate that he survived and is in critical condition. Local authorities temporarily sealed off the area.