Jordanian security uses force to disperse protests during curfew

Jordanian security used force to disperse crowds gathered during curfew hours and arrested several people, a spokesman said on Tuesday, after reports that police used tear gas to disperse protests.

Demonstrations were held in recent days to protest lockdown measures, deteriorating economic conditions as well as corruption.

The demonstations followed the death of at least six people at the Salt Public Hospital, west of the capital Amman, due to a shortage of oxygen supplies.

A statement by the Public Security Directorate said that security forces issued verbal warnings to the crowds.

It said that the warnings were issued before using “the appropriate force to disperse illegal gatherings that put the society’s health and safety at the risk of widely spreading infections.’’

Several people were detained, the spokesman said in the statement.

Some security personnel were injured and public and private property was damaged.

According to videos circulating on Twitter and reports on local media, security forces reportedly used tear gas to disperse protests on Monday evening in several areas in the kingdom.

Amid a recent surge in Coronavirus infections, authorities reinstated a weekly Friday lockdown and extended daily curfew hours as officials warn that hospital occupancy rates due to COVID-19 were alarming.

A night-time curfew between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. was currently in place across Jordan, in a bid to control the spread of Coronavirus.

Jordan reported 9,417 cases on Monday, the highest daily record the kingdom has seen.