A gunman was shot dead, and three police officers were injured after a gunbattle broke out near the Israeli Embassy in Jordan on Sunday, news agency Reuters reported, while citing a security source and state media reports.

The gunman, who began shooting at a police patrol in the Rabiah neighbourhood of Amman, was shot dead by police in the wake of the public security, state news agency Petra reported.

The eyewitnesses said that the Jordanian Police, before indulging the gunman, cordoned off an area near the embassy. Soon after the gunshots were heard, police and ambulances rushed to the neighbourhood, where the embassy is situated, the two witnesses said.

The area is a frequent site of protests against Israel. Jordan has seen large rallies against Israel amid the war in Gaza.

Police urged residents to remain indoors as security forces searched for those responsible, according to a security official.

Of Jordan’s 12 million people, many are of Palestinian origin, displaced or having fled to Jordan during the 1948 war that led to the creation of Israel. Some have family connections across the Jordan River.

Jordan’s peace treaty with Israel is widely opposed by many citizens, who view normalisation as a betrayal of Palestinian rights.

The police are conducting further investigation to ascertain what led to the incident.

Source: Reuters