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Ammon News - by Nader Al-Anzi from Okaz/Saudi Gazette

TABUK — A young Saudi has recounted the harrowing experience of how he and members of his family came under attack during their recent visit to Jordan.

Saad Abdullatief Al-Atawi said his wife and child sustained injuries after getting hit with shrapnel from a grenade fired by Jordanian policemen. Al-Atawi and his family members are still in a state of shock after the incident that occurred in the southern Ma’an region, which was the scene of unrest a few days ago.

Al-Atawi blamed Jordanian police for all the troubles his family encountered. However, in a statement the Jordanian police claimed that the attack on the Saudi family was not deliberate.

Al-Atawi, a resident of Tabuk, said his family was on a road trip to Qatrana region to visit a relative. “When we reached Ma’an region after 9 p.m. on Wednesday, we came across a police unit on the roadside. All of a sudden, without any warning, they fired at our car and the shrapnel pierced into the car, causing a small fire that was quickly contained. In the midst of dust, I stopped the car and managed to take out my family members.”

Al-Atawi continued: “When, we got out of the car, I saw that those who fired at the car were policemen. They abruptly left the scene without extending any assistance to us.”

The citizen said his wife and one-and-a-half-year-old son were wounded in the attack. “There was bleeding from the left arm of my child and it was difficult for my wife to walk because of serious burns on both her feet. I took my wife and son a little distance away from the car and waited for somebody to come and take us to a hospital but nobody was there in the vicinity,” he said adding that this forced him to return to the car and slowly drive it until he saw a police unit.

“When I sought their help, they called for an ambulance to take us to Queen Rania General Hospital where we received treatment,” he said.

The Saudi Embassy, Al-Atawi said, rushed to extend him all help. “The embassy staff was in regular touch with me and extended all assistance possible.

Saudi Ambassador Fahd Al-Zaid and his deputy Hamad Al-Hajri received me and promised all help for me and my family,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Ahmad Abu Hammad, director of public relations at Jordan’s police force, said what happened to the Saudi citizen was not deliberate as police personnel in Ma’an are regularly engaged in confronting disturbances that have rocked the region over the past few days. “We have received a complaint from the Saudi citizen, and a police report has been prepared accordingly.”