Jordanian charged with terrorism over stabbing of tourists

[Valin]

Israel National News

Jordanian court levels terrorism charges against man suspected of wounding eight people in stabbing attack this past November.

Elad Benari

27/01/20

A Jordanian court on Sunday levelled "terrorism" charges against a man suspected of wounding eight people in a knife attack at a popular tourist site this past November, AFP reported.

The suspect, Moustafa Abourouis, 22, faces up to 20 years in prison after the stabbing of three Mexicans, a Swiss woman, a Jordanian tour guide and a security officer at the Roman city of Jerash on November 6, 2019.

At a hearing open to the press, prosecutors accused Abourouis of committing a "terrorist act" and "promoting the ideas of a terrorist group" -- a reference to the Islamic State (ISIS) group.

Abourouis, who is of Palestinian Arab origins and grew up in the “Palestinian refugee” camp of Souf, was arrested immediately after the attack at Jerash, located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Amman.

The Jordanian prosecutor accused Abourouis of trying to join ISIS, an operative of which in Syria had "ordered him to commit attacks against foreigners".

(Snip)