Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Nine people were killed, including seven security officers, two civilians and a Canadian tourist, and 27 were injured in shooting with gunmen Sunday in the southern city of Karak, according to the Public Security Department.

It said in a statement that events began with a shoot-out between police and armed men at a house in Qatraneh near Karak, where two police officers were injured. The gunmen then fled by car into the city.

Gunmen had also shot at a security patrol before they reached the Crusaders-era Karak Castle. Once inside, they opened fire on a police station, injuring several policemen and bystanders, it added.

The statement said police and security forces surrounded the castle and its vicinity and carried out an operation to hunt down the gunmen, estimated to have numbered five or six, adding that the operation was still going on.

It said four security men, two civilians and a Canadian visitor were killed and a number others were injured and receiving treatment.

The statement urged citizens to depend on statements issued by the security department in order not to affect the progress of investigations.