(MENAFN- Jordan Times) The Public Security Department (PSD) on Saturday said it would not tolerate any attempts to undermine the authority of the state.
In a statement, the PSD said officers had responded with force to what it described as an armed attack by scores of Salafists on the General Intelligence Department (GID) headquarters in the southern Governorate of Maan on Friday, in which a policeman and a civilian were injured and hospitalised.
"The police on Friday used force to disperse an illegal gathering of nearly 200 people in the city of Maan after the participants violated the law and intimidated the public," the PSD statement said, adding that the group, which included individuals with criminal records, was calling for the release of two Jordanians jailed in other Arab countries.
According to the police, some of the demonstrators fired assault rifles during the riot.
"As soon as they arrived at their target, they started firing at the [GID] headquarters, injuring one of the security guards, who was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Consequently, the Gendarmerie forces who arrived on the scene intervened and exchanged fire with the perpetrators, and also fired tear gas cannisters to disperse the crowd," the PSD said, adding that as a result, one of the participants in the demonstrations was injured and later taken to hospital.
The statement added that some of the shooters had been identified and would be pursued and brought to justice, and that the police would take all legal measures to ensure the public's safety.
In the same statement, the PSD announced that it was launching a crackdown on outlaws in the northern region with the support of the Gendarmerie.
"The campaign, which started Friday night, resulted in the arrest of 45 wanted suspects who used to incite riots, bully people and disturb public life," the PSD said, adding that the campaign was launched in response to complaints from citizens and would continue until all suspects were brought to justice.
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