November 9th 2005

Sets of suicide bombers carried out simultaneous attacks in Amman Jordan just before 9 p.m. GMT Wednesday.   It has been reported that at least 57 people were killed and at least 115 people were injured. 

Three hotels were hit: The Grand Hyatt, the Radisson and the Days Inn.  The hotels are frequently used by American and European businessmen and diplomats. This area has become a base for those flying in and out of Iraq.  Since the blasts occurred almost simultaneously some have speculated that al-Qaida might have been behind it.

The Radisson is popular with Israeli tourists and has been the target of foiled plots in the past. After the Attacks, local security forces, including anti-terrorism police units fanned out across the city while police set up road blocks.

According to the Associated Press, “a counterterrorism official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, said that it's "likely" that Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was behind the attacks.”  Al-Zarquawi has already been sentenced to death in absentia by the Jordanian government.