Jordan authorities reveal they foiled ISIS terrorist plot

Four members of terror group planned to attack General Intelligence building in Ma'an governorate

An Anglican priest known as the “Vicar of Baghdad” has been accused of trying to pay ISIS $17,500 (Dh64, 280) to release two women who have been physically abused and kept as slaves by the terror grouShow more

Jordanian authorities have revealed that they foiled a terrorist plot by a cell of four members supporting ISIS, Saudi Arabia's state-run press agency reported on Sunday evening.

The cell was planning to carry out terrorist attacks across Jordan, SPA said.

Jordanian authorities said the cell members, who were arrested last August, were about to target the General Intelligence building in the Ma'an governorate in southern Jordan.

The terrorists also planned to attack Jordanian police patrols and national guards in the same governorate.

Last month, the country's General Intelligence Directorate said it had foiled a plot by two people to attack American and Israeli diplomats, and US troops at a military base in the south of Jordan.

A GID statement said the suspects planned to drive vehicles into their targets and attack them with firearms and knives.

It said the suspects had viewed ISIS materials online in 2015, and were communicating with each other via messaging apps to discuss their views and support for ISIS objectives in the region.

The suspects had been arrested last year and would stand trial in Jordan's state security court, which hears "terrorism" and other high profile criminal cases, but is not part of the country's civilian justice system.

Last year, four members of the security forces were killed in an attack attributed to groups linked to ISIS.

In 2016, ISIS claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed seven guards near the border with Syria. In another attack months later, 10 people were killed in a shooting in the tourist town of Karak.

Jordan last year also said it had foiled an ISIS plot that included plans for a series of attacks on security installations, shopping centres and some religious figures. It arrested the suspects.