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Ammon News - By Hicham Sawalqa

UPDATE:

** 11 suspects arrested during raid on armed group safehouse northwest of Amman, heavy gunfire exchanged

** Joint military, gendarmerie, and security forces units carryout raid operations against suspected "terrorist cell" ~ PSD statement

** Two policemen critically wounded in drive-by shooting in eastern Amman, suspects arrested

AMMONNEWS - Joint security and military forces early Wednesday morning raided a safehouse of an armed group in Kamaliyyah district northwest of Amman suspected of intending to carryout violent acts, and arrested 11 suspects during a heavy exchange of gunfire.

Meanwhile in eastern Amman two policemen were critically wounded in a a reportedly related incident when assailants fired gunshots at their police patrol unit in Jabal al-Nasr. Police raided and arrested two suspects shortly after the incident early Wednesday morning.


SECURITY FORCES RAID 'TERROR CELL' HIDEOUT

A security source told Ammon New that a joint security, gerdarmerie and military forces raided the safehouse of the armed group and exchanged heavy gunfire, one member of the group was arrested.

11 other suspects were later arrested several hours after a joint security operation raided the safehouse and weapons storage house in Kamaliyyah.

A statement issued by the Public Security Department (PSD) early Wednesday morning said that intelligence information obtained nearly a week ago revealed that an armed mob, described by the statement as a "terrorist cell," was intending to carryout acts of violence inside the kingdom.

The statement added that the group of 10-15 members who have criminal records in armed robbery, blackmail, and murder are active in the areas of Al-Hashemi, Jabal Al Nasr, and Kamaliyyah and are heavily armed, describing them as a "terrorist cell."

The security source added in statements to Ammon News that the group is armed with ammunition and weapons and exchanged heavy gunfire during the raids that began at 3 AM and extended for several hours.

A security source added that Special Security Unit 14 and Anti-Terrorism teams took part in the raids.

Eye witnesses told Ammon News that heavy gunshots were heard in the area as armored military vehicles and ambulances arrived on the scene.

Local residents reported that military helicopters hovered over the area in Kamaliyyah, northwest of Amman, adding that security forces were stopping residents in the street around the time of morning dawn prayer.

Security forces blocked the main street in Sweileh heading towards Kamalliyah and Salt and blockaded the area.

The PSD statement said that security agencies received tips last week of the group's illegal activities and that the agencies coordinated in tracking and locating the members of the group in two homes, one in Al-Hashemi and another in Al-Kamaliyyah.

Top security and military officials arrived at the scene to oversee the operation, including Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mash'al Al Zaben, Chief of the Public Security Department Hussein Majali, and Head of the Gendarmerie forces Taufiq Tawabah.


TWO POLICEMEN CRITICALLY WOUNDED IN NASR, SUSPECTS ARRESTED


Meanwhile in eastern Amman, two police officers were shot and injured when individuals fired gunshots at their patrol unit in Jabal al-Nasr.

Eye witnesses told Ammon that a vehicle drove by a police patrol unit early Wednesday morning and fired at the patrol car, injuring the two police officers in the head.

The PSD statement confirmed the report and added that the two PSD members were rushed to the hospital and remain in critical condition.

Shortly after the incident, police identified and arrested two individuals suspected of shooting and injuring two policemen in Jabal al-Nasr in eastern Amman.

Security forces surrounded and raided a house where the suspects were hiding, a heavy exchange of gunfire took place according to the PSD.

No one was hurt during the Jabal al-Nasr raid as forces arrested the two individuals and ceased large quantities of weapons and ammunition.

The PSD press office said that the two suspects are dangerous and are wanted for armed robbery and attempted murder charges, and are suspected of firing at a police officer last week in Ruseifeh district injuring him in the head.

The security source did not rule out that the two incidents were related.