Amman, the capital city of Jordan.

The 2005 Amman bombings were a series of coordinated bomb attacks on three hotels in Amman, Jordan on November 9, 2005. Al-Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attacks which killed 60 people and injured 115 others. Three high-ranking Palestinian intelligence officials were among the dead. The explosions, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, the Radisson SAS Hotel, and the Days Inn, started at around 20:50 local time (18:50 UTC) at the Grand Hyatt. ^{[1] [2]} There are rumors that several Israeli citizens were evacuated prior to the blast. ^[3] Many newspapers refer to it as a suicide bomb attack, but this is questioned e.g. by the fact that there was no blood to see at the place where the suicide bomber was said to be exploded: Hyatt, Radisson. ^[4] CIA World Factbook map of Jordan modified to make it an Amman location map. ... CIA World Factbook map of Jordan modified to make it an Amman location map. ... A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging, usually on a short-term basis and especially for tourists. ... Location of Amman Amman (Arabic عمان ʿAmmān), the capital of the Kingdom of Jordan, is a city of more than 1. ... November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jamaat al-Tawhid wal Jihad members with Shosei Koda and with the banner in the background This article is about the group called Al-Qaeda in Iraq. For the alleged earlier involvement of al-Qaeda in Iraq, see Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda. ... Hyatt is a family of hotel brands owned by Global Hyatt Corporation. ... Radisson SAS in Copenhagen, Denmark. ... Days Inn logo. ... UTC redirects here. ... A suicide bombing is a bomb attack on people or property, committed by a person who knows the explosion will cause his or her own death (see suicide, suicide weapons). ...

An Iraqi woman confessed on tv that she was the supposed fourth bomber and failed to detonate her explosive belt and was arrested. Explosive belt (technically, a vest) worn by a Palestinian bomber captured by Israeli police An explosive belt (also called suicide belt, suicide vest or shaheed belt) is a vest packed with explosives and armed with a detonator, worn by suicide bombers. ...

The three hotels are often frequented by Western military contractors and diplomats. The bomb at the Radisson SAS exploded in the Philadelphia Ballroom, where a wedding hosting almost 300 guests was taking place. In addition to killing a total of 38 people ^[5], the explosion destroyed the ballroom, blew out the large windows bordering the street, and knocked down ceiling panels. The hotel lobby was also affected: ceiling panels and light fixtures collapsed, furniture was destroyed, and the hotel's glass doors were shattered. Cleanup and rebuilding have already commenced. For alternative meanings for The West in the United States, see the U.S. West and American West. ... A contractor is a legal term for one who enters into a binding agreement to perform a certain service or provide a certain product in exchange for valuable consideration, monetary, goods,services, even barter arrangements. ... This page is about negotiations; for the board game, see Diplomacy (game). ... A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated puprose of which is holding dances (balls). ...

The bomb that exploded in the lobby or lobby bar of the Grand Hyatt Amman was equally devastating. It destroyed the hotel's entrance and brought down pillars and ceiling tiles, along with badly damaging the reception and bar areas. Hyatt has already begun cleanup and rebuilding operations, and will announce a reopening schedule for the hotel once investigations by the Jordanian authorities will be completed. The company plans to reopen their Amman property as soon as possible.

The attacks

Radisson SAS

At the Radisson SAS Hotel, two suicide bombers (a husband and wife team: Ali Hussein Ali al-Shamari and Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi) entered the Philadelphia Ballroom, where Ashraf Akhras and his bride, Nadia Al-Alami, were celebrating their wedding with around 300 Jordanian and Palestinian guests. Sajida al-Rishawi was unable to detonate her belt. Her husband Ali al-Shamari, apparently admonished her and told her to leave the room. As she was leaving, the lights went out in the ballroom, Ali jumped onto a dining room table and detonated himself. Amongst the 38 people killed in the explosion, were the fathers of the bride and groom as well as Moustapha Akkad director of the film The Message and his daughter. ^[6] Ali Hussein Ali al-Shamari was an Iraqi terrorist, apparently one of the Al-Qaeda members who carried out the 2005 Amman Bombings at the Radisson Hotel. ... Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi (born 1970) is an Iraqi terrorist, who took part in the 2005 Amman bombings in Jordan but survived when her explosive belt failed to detonate. ... Moustapha Akkad (left) directs Anthony Quinn on the set of Mohammad, Messenger of God (1976) Moustapha Akkad (Arabic: مصطفى العقاد) (July 1930 – November 11, 2005) was a Syrian-American film producer and director, best known for producing the series of Halloween films and directing Mohammad, Messenger of God and Lion of the... Mohammad, Messenger of God (retitled The Message for U.S. release) (1976) is a film directed by Mustafa Akkad, chronicling the life and times of the founder of Islam, Muhammad. ...

As of November 14, 2005, the hotel has returned to full operation except for the wedding hall which is still undergoing forensic analysis and repairs.

Grand Hyatt

The second blast happened about 500 yards from the Radisson SAS. After the bomber ordered orange juice in the hotel's coffee shop, he went to another room—possibly to get his explosive belt—and then came back and detonated. Seven hotel employees were killed in this blast.

Days Inn

At the Days Inn the bomber entered the restaurant on the hotel's ground floor. He tried to detonate his explosive belt but had trouble; a waiter noticed this and called security. The bomber ran outside of the hotel and successfully detonated himself, killing three members of a Chinese military delegation.

Property damage at the Days Inn is expected to amount to around $200,000, according to Khaled Abu Ghoush, general manager of the property. He said lost revenue due to the disrupted business is expected to total around $50,000 and be covered by insurance. ^[7]

Casualties

According to one Jordanian official, Maj. Bashir al-Da'aja, early in the investigation, local authorities confirmed a series of coordinated suicide attacks as the cause of the blasts. Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Marwan al-Muasher initially announced that at least 67 people have died and 300 people have been injured. However, the Jordanian government subsequently revised the number of casualties down to at least 59 dead and 115 injured. The adjustment in figures was not explained. A suicide bombing is an attack using a bomb in which the individual(s) carrying the explosive materials composing the bomb intend(s) and expect(s) to die upon detonation (see suicide). ... A Deputy Prime Minister is the deputy of a Prime Minister, and a member of a nations cabinet. ... Marwan al-Muasher (born 1956) is a Jordanian politician. ...

Among the dead were thirty-six Jordanians, six Iraqis, five Palestinians, four Americans, two Israelis ^[8], two Bahrainis, three Chinese delegates of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), one Saudi, and one Indonesian citizen. The Palestinian fatalities included Major-General Bashir Nafeh, the head of military intelligence in the West Bank, Colonel Abed Allun, a high-ranking Preventive Security forces official, Jihad Fatouh, the commercial attache at the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo, and Mosab Khorma, a senior Palestinian-American banker and former Paltel CEO. Both of the Israeli fatalities were Arabs. One was Husam Fathi Mahajna, a businessman from Umm al-Fahm, the other was an unidentified resident of East Jerusalem. Syrian-American film producer Moustapha Akkad, who was in the Grand Hyatt lobby, was severely wounded and died in hospital on November 11. His 34-year-old daughter Rima was also killed in the blast. The Palestinian flag, adopted in 1948, is a widely recognized modern symbol of the Palestinian people. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Cairo (Arabic: ‎ translit: ) is the capital city of Egypt (and previously the United Arab Republic) and has a metropolitan area population of approximately 15. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Umm al-Fahm (Arabic أم الفحم, Hebrew אום אל-פחם) is a city in the Haifa District in Israel. ... East Jerusalem is that part of Jerusalem which was held by Jordan from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War until the Six-Day War in 1967. ... Moustapha Akkad (left) directs Anthony Quinn on the set of Mohammad, Messenger of God (1976) Moustapha Akkad (Arabic: مصطفى العقاد) (July 1930 – November 11, 2005) was a Syrian-American film producer and director, best known for producing the series of Halloween films and directing Mohammad, Messenger of God and Lion of the... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ...

Suspects

Jordanian police initially stated that there were at least four attackers (the fourth, a female, was later captured), including a couple, who spoke Iraqi-accented Arabic. A number of Iraqis were among the more than 100 suspects who were arrested in the following days. Police claimed to have found maps that were used in planning the attack. ^[9] Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ...

Explosive vest/belt of a Palestinian suicide bomber, captured by the Israeli Police. The 2005 Amman bombers are thought to have used vests of similar construction.

On November 12, Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher ^[10] that the attacks were carried out by Jordanian-born Zarqawi's group. According to Jordanian officials, the attackers were Iraqi and had entered the country three days before the attacks, and there were only three attackers. Explosive belt Scanned from Israeli Police Terror, Lets Stop It Together brochure. ... Explosive belt Scanned from Israeli Police Terror, Lets Stop It Together brochure. ... November 12 is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 49 days remaining. ... Marwan al-Muasher Marwan al-Muasher (born 1956) is a Jordanian politician. ...

On November 13, King Abdullah announced the arrest of a woman believed to be a fourth would-be suicide bomber, whose explosive belt failed to detonate. The three dead suicide bombers have been identified ^[11], and their names were announced by Deputy Prime Minister Muasher. They were Ali Hussein Ali al-Shamari (SAS Radisson), Rawad Jassem Mohammed Abed (Grand Hyatt), and Safaa Mohammed Ali (Days Inn). The woman in custody has been identified as Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi. She was married to al-Shamari and intended to blow herself up at the Radisson. Muasher also said that she was the sister of a close aide of al-Zarqawi. November 13 is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 48 days remaining. ... King Abdullah and Queen Rania King Abdullah appears here at a summit in Mexico. ... Ali Hussein Ali al-Shamari was an Iraqi terrorist, apparently one of the Al-Qaeda members who carried out the 2005 Amman Bombings at the Radisson Hotel. ... Rawad Jassem Mohammed Abed was an Iraqi terrorist, apparently one of the Al-Queda members who carried out the 2005 Amman Bombings. ... Safaa Mohammed Ali was an Iraqi terrorist, apparently one of the Al-Queda members who carried out the 2005 Amman Bombings. ... Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi (born 1970) is an Iraqi terrorist, who took part in the 2005 Amman bombings in Jordan but survived when her explosive belt failed to detonate. ...

Source of the attacks

An Internet statement released the day after, purportedly from Al-Qaeda in Iraq, claimed that they had carried out the attacks. The statement also revealed the names of the bombers: Abu Khabib, Abu Muaz, Abu Omaira and Om Omaira, all Iraqis. Members of the Jordanian government had already begun blaming the attacks on the Islamic terrorist group, which counts the Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, among its leaders. "The attacks carry the trademark of al Qaeda", one police official said. Two U.S. intelligence officials agreed, describing the style of the attacks as bearing the trademark of al-Zarqawi, who has, in the past, discussed the possibility of launching attacks outside of Iraq. Of late, there have been concerns that terrorist attacks may occur in Jordan, due in part to its close proximity to Iraq, but also due to its government's cooperation in the United States' War on Terrorism. Jamaat al-Tawhid wal Jihad members with Shosei Koda and with the banner in the background This article is about the group called Al-Qaeda in Iraq. For the alleged earlier involvement of al-Qaeda in Iraq, see Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda. ... Islamist terrorism, sometimes called Islamic terrorism, is terrorism that is carried out to further the political and religious ambitions of a segment of the Muslim community. ... Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in an undated AP photograph. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Notably, the Radisson hotel was previously an al Qaeda target during the 2000 millennium attack plots. Jordanian police foiled the original attempt after arresting Khadr Abu Hoshar, a Palestinian militant, along with 15 others on December 12, 1999. All three of the hotels are frequented by American, Israeli, and European military contractors, journalists, business people, and diplomats, and the city itself has long been described as a "gate way" for westerners into Baghdad and Iraq at large, leading many to entertain the possibility of a connection between the Amman bombings and the war in Iraq. Osama bin Laden, founder of al-Qaeda, in the 1990s. ... The organization Al-Qaida encouraged attacks against Israel and the United States on or around January 1, 2000. ... The term Palestinian has other usages, for which see definitions of Palestinian. ... The term Palestinian terrorism is commonly used to describe acts of political violence committed by Palestinian individuals or groups against Israelis, Jews, and nationals of other countries. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The term Western world or the West can have multiple meanings depending on its context. ... Location of Baghdad within Iraq Baghdad (Arabic: ‎ translit: , Kurdish: Bexda, from Persian Baagh-daad meaning given by God) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ...

In American shorthand date notation, the month number is followed by the day number, i.e. 9/11 corresponds to September 11. However, elsewhere in the world, the month number follows the day number, thus, November 9 would be notated in most nations, including Jordan, as 9/11. It has been speculated that this may constitute a parallel between the two dates (and thus to the September 11, 2001 attacks). A huge plume of smoke and fire can be seen emerging from the North Tower. ...

Response

Abdullah II, the King of Jordan, cut short a state visit to Kazakhstan and returned to Jordan, where he pledged that "justice will pursue the criminals" and condemned the attacks. King Abdullah also cancelled an upcoming visit to Israel. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan had planned to visit Jordan on November 10, 2005, but postponed the trip in light of the bombings. Kofi Annan issued a statement "strongly condemning" the attacks, and underscoring the need for additional security measures against terrorist attacks worldwide. His Majesty King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein. ... The Jordanian monarchy was set up in 1921, with help from the British. ... United Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... A large number of international organizations and other bodies have a Secretary General or Secretary-General as their chief administrative officers or in other administrative capacities. ... Kofi Atta Annan (born April 8, 1938) is a Ghanaian diplomat and the seventh and current Secretary-General of the United Nations. ... November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A spokesman for the White House called the bombings "a heinous act of terror," while United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the bombings a "great tragedy" that show "the very difficult war that we're fighting." The southern side of the White House The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States of America. ... In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. ... Condoleezza Rice (born November 14, 1954) is the 66th and current United States Secretary of State, and the second in the administration of President George W. Bush. ...

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called King Abdullah and offered his condolences, as well as assistance in the recovery efforts. President George W. Bush said, "The bombing should remind all of us that there's an enemy in the world that is willing to kill innocent people, willing to bomb a wedding celebration in order to advance their cause." The Finnish Government as well expressed their condolences and stated that "terrorism is to be condemned always and everywhere", through Minister of Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For more detail of Sharons recent illness, see Illnesses of Ariel Sharon. ... The presidential seal was used by president Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States and former governor of Texas. ... Erkki Tuomioja (born 1 July 1946) is the foreign affairs minister of Finland (since 2000). ...

Jordanians reacted to the bombings with outrage. Hundreds of people in Amman participated in protests against the bombings, chanting "burn in hell, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi". ^[12] King Abdullah and Queen Rania visted several victems of the bombings in hospital. The King said "The pain you felt for the loss of your beloved ones, who were killed for no crime they committed, was shared by all Jordanians, regardless of their origins or religions." A relative of one of the victims presented a copy of the Koran to the King during his visit to the hospital. ^[13] Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in an undated AP photograph. ... The Quran (Arabic al-qurʾān أَلْقُرآن; also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ...

The family of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (nee Ahmed Fadeel Nazzal al-Khalayleh), the al-Khalayleh tribe, took out half-page advertisements in Jordan's three main newspapers, to denounce him and his actions. 57 members of the al-Khalayleh family, including al-Zarqawi's brother and cousin, also reiterated their strong allegiance to the king. The ads said "As we pledge to maintain homage to King Abdullah and to our precious Jordan ... we denounce in the clearest terms all the terrorist actions claimed by the so-called Ahmed Fadheel Nazzal al-Khalayleh, who calls himself Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi" ... "We announce, and all the people are our witnesses, that we - the sons of the al-Khalayleh tribe - are innocent of him and all that emanates from him, whether action, assertion or decision." ... "We sever links with him until doomsday." ^[14] Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in an undated AP photograph. ... King Abdullah can refer to: Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, current king of Saudi Arabia Abdullah II, current king of Jordan Abdullah I, Emir of Transjordan (1921–1946) and King of Transjordan (1946–1949) This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... Yawm al-Qiyâmah (يوم القيامة; literally: Day of the Resurrection (Quran 71. ...

Notes

1. ↑ Deadly Bombings Hit Jordan - TheStreet.com, November 9, 2005
2. ↑ Jordan bombings kill 57, wound 300 - Aljazeera, November 9, 2005
3. ↑ Did Israel have Prior Knowledge of the Amman 11/9 Terror Attacks? - GlobalResearch.ca, November 13, 2005
4. ↑ Analysis: Amman blasts al-Qaida linked
5. ↑ 'Bomber confession' shocks Jordan - CNN, November 14, [[2005]
6. ↑ Amman bombings kill 'Halloween' producer - CNN, November 12, 2005
7. ↑ Bombed Jordan hotels still estimating damages - Michael Bradford, Business Insurance, November 11, 2005
8. ↑ Second Israeli Fatality in Amman Terror Attacks - Arutz Sheva (Israel National News), November 10, 2005
9. ↑ Dozens held over Jordan bombings - BBC, November 11, 2005
10. ↑ Jordan confirms al Qaeda behind hotel blasts - CNN, November 12, 2005
11. ↑ Bomber's wife arrested in Jordan - BBC, November 13, 2005
12. ↑ Jordan 'not afraid' after bombs - BBC, November 10, 2005
13. ↑ King, Queen meet with families of terror victims - King Abdullah II Official Website, November 15, 2005
14. ↑ Al-Khalayleh tribe disowns al-Zarqawi - Jerusalem Post, November 20, 2005

November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Al Jazeera logo Al Jazeera (الجزيرة), meaning The Island or The (Arabian) Peninsula (whence also Algiers) is an Arabic television channel based in Qatar. ... November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 13 is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 48 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cable News Network, usually referred to as CNN, is a cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner[1] [2]. It is a division of the Turner Broadcasting System, owned by Time Warner. ... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining. ... The Cable News Network, usually referred to as CNN, is a cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner[1] [2]. It is a division of the Turner Broadcasting System, owned by Time Warner. ... November 12 is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 49 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the largest publicly-funded radio and television broadcasting corporation of the United Kingdom (see British television). ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cable News Network, usually referred to as CNN, is a cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner[1] [2]. It is a division of the Turner Broadcasting System, owned by Time Warner. ... November 12 is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 49 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the largest publicly-funded radio and television broadcasting corporation of the United Kingdom (see British television). ... November 13 is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 48 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the largest publicly-funded radio and television broadcasting corporation of the United Kingdom (see British television). ... November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 46 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikinews has news related to:

Series of explosions hit hotels in Amman

• Al-Jazeera report
• BBC News report
• CBS News report
• CNN report
• Fox News report
• Jerusalem Post report
• MSNBC report
• New York Times report
• Reuters report
• RTÉ News report
• SBS Australia report
• Woman bomber in Amman hotel blasts arrested