Jordan writer in anti-Islam case shot dead at court

AFP, AMMAN: A prominent Jordanian writer was shot dead Sunday on the steps of a court where he was facing charges for sharing an anti-Islam cartoon online, in an attack condemned as “heinous”.
Nahed Hattar was struck by three bullets before the alleged assassin was arrested at the scene of the shooting in Amman’s central Abdali district, said the official Petra news agency. The assailant—bearded and dressed in a grey dishdasha worn by conservative Muslim men—shot Hattar, a 56-year-old Christian, as he made his way up the stairs of the court, a security source told AFP.
Struck in the head, he was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital, said the source.
The gunman, a 49-year-old Amman resident, gave himself up to police at the court, the source added.
An AFP journalist saw blood lying on the steps of the courthouse, where police had cordoned off the area of the shooting.

Jordan writer in anti-Islam case shot dead at court

AFP, AMMAN: A prominent Jordanian writer was shot dead Sunday on the steps of a court where he was facing charges for sharing an anti-Islam cartoon online, in an attack condemned as heinous. Nahed Hattar was struck by three bullets before the alleged assassin was arrested at the scene of the shooting in Ammans central Abdali district, said the official Petra news agency. The assailantbearded and dressed in a grey dishdasha worn by conservative Muslim menshot Hattar, a 56-year-old Christian, as he made his way up the stairs of the court, a security source told AFP. Struck in the head, he was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital, said the source. The gunman, a 49-year-old Amman resident, gave himself up to police at the court, the source added. An AFP journalist saw blood lying on the steps of the courthouse, where police had cordoned off the area of the shooting.