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Jordanian cop kills two Americans and a South African in attack

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In this Thursday, June 20, 2013 file photo, special operations forces from Iraq, Jordan and the U.S. conduct an exercise at the King Abdullah Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) in Amman, Jordan.
Image: Maya Alleruzzo/Associated Press

A Jordanian policeman killed two Americans and a South African during an attack on a police compound in Amman, Jordan, on Monday. Two Jordanian's were also killed.

The attacker, who is now dead, opened fire on the foreign trainers at King Abdullah police training facility in Muwuaqqar, on the outskirts of the city.

Mohammed Momani told the state news agency Petra that two Americans and four Jordanians were wounded in Monday's shooting at the training center on the outskirts of the Jordanian capital, adding that one of the wounded is in critical condition.

The attack also wounded seven people, including two Americans, three Jordanians and a Lebanese, Momani said.

Momani portrayed the shooting as a crime and said an investigation into the attack is underway. Little information has been confirmed about the attacker, but local media is reporting that he is a 29-year-old police captain.

The attack comes on the 10th anniversary of a series ofsuicide bombings at three hotels in Amman, claimed by al-Qaida, that left 60 people dead and dozens wounded.

Jordan's King Abdullah and his wife Queen Rania marked the day with a memorial service. They have yet to make a statement on the shooting.

The U.S. Embassy in Jordan released a brief statement on its Twitter account following the attack:

In Washington, President Barack Obama said the attacker had been dressed in a military uniform.

"We take this very seriously and will be working closely with the Jordanians to determine exactly what happened," Obama said during an Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Additional reporting from the Associated Press.

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