Calm restored in Northern Shuneh after riots over death of two brothers

jordantimes.com

Friday, April 30th, 2010

By Rana Husseini

AMMAN – Calm was restored on Thursday in Northern Shuneh, which witnessed unrest the previous day following the death of two brothers, one of whom was in police custody, officials said.

The second brother died during a shoot-out on Wednesday after the results of the autopsy conducted on the detainee were released, an official source said, adding that four other people, including two police officers, were injured in the incident.

« The two policemen are being treated at a military hospital while the two other injured men are receiving treatment at a government hospital… one of them is the brother of the two victims and is in critical condition, » the source said.

Area residents attacked police cars, the public hospital and houses in protest against the death of O.B., 36, who was reportedly found hanging from the ceiling in his cell, officials and eyewitnesses said.

“The victim was wanted by police on several criminal counts and was arrested on Tuesday and placed in a holding cell,” the source said.

On Wednesday, O.B. was found hanging in the cell with “his own pants tied to an iron bar in the ceiling and wrapped around his neck,” the source added.

A five-hour post-mortem conducted by a team of pathologists headed by Ali Shotar established that the victim killed himself, according to the source.

“The government physicians determined that this was a typical hanging case and no traces of violence or torture were found on the victim’s body,” a second source told The Jordan Times.

The pathologists also took blood and tissue samples and sent them to the criminal lab for further analysis.

However, the victim’s family was not convinced by the findings and attacked the Muath Ben Jabal Hospital and the police station in Northern Shuneh as well as vehicles and property in the town, according to the second source.

“The attackers fired at the police station and police responded by firing back, resulting in the death of the detainee’s brother and the injury of two police officers and two of the attackers,” the source said.

Riot and Gendarmerie Forces were dispatched to Northern Shuneh to restore order, according to the source.

“There is a heavy police presence and units are deployed at the entrances of the town with police checking the identities of people entering and exiting Northern Shuneh,” the source added.

Public Security Department Spokesperson Major Mohammad Khatib confirmed that police were stationed in the area and the situation was under control..

Forensics determine Shuneh detainee died by hanging

en.ammonnews.net

2010-04-29

AMMONNEWS – The post-mortem autopsy conducted on the body of Omar Bsharat, who was held in custody in Northern Shuneh police center, revealed that the man died as a result of « hanging. »

An official source said that a joint committee of Forensics and experts from Jordan University of Science and Technology found in the autopsy report released on Thursday that the man died as a result of suffocation from hanging.

On another note, a medical source and another security source denied reports that the third brother, Hussein Bsharat, who was injured during clashes with police, had died.

Both sources confirmed that Hussein is in stable condition at Princess Basma Hospital.

Bsharat’s death incited riots in the northern Ghor/Shuneh region, leading security personnel to arrest around 62 people for disrupting public order.

Rioters stormed into the Police Center and health centers in Shuneh hospitals and damaged public and private property.

The riots had erupted in Northern Shuneh Wednesday afternoon where relatives expressed anger over the death of Bsharat Tuesday evening. Relatives were not convinced with the medical report that stated their son had died as a result of ‘hanging’ before security personnel found his dead body lying on the ground of the holding cell.

The riots and disturbances led to eight injuries among rioters, and the injury of two police officers.

Clashes between the rioters and security personnel led to the death of Omar Bsharat’s brother, ‘Ahmad Bsharat’ after receiving gunshot wounds and the third brother, Hussein, was also injured as a result of gunfire exchange, along with four others, all of which were transferred to Princess Basma Hospital.

The two injured police officers were taken to Eidon Military Hospital for treatment.

An arrest campaign by security personnel latested till the early morning hours on Thursday and led to the arrest of 62 people charged with inciting violence and damaging public and private property, a security source told ‘Ammon News.’

~ par Alain Bertho sur 30 avril 2010.

Publié dans émeutes, riots, الشغب