Jordanian police, Syrian refugees hurt in camp riots

AMMAN — Twenty-two Jordanian policemen and three Syrian refugees were hurt in clashes in a northern camp Saturday as police fired tear gas to disperse dozens of rioters, security officials said.

Eyewitness said a Syrian refugee woman was killed in the rioting, which was denied in a statement by Public Security Directorate.

“Dozens of Syrian refugees at the Zaatari refugee camp rioted after police detained a group of refugees after leaving the camp illegally,” the statement said.

“Twenty-two policemen were injured in the clashes. The rioters burned six tents and two caravans and tried to attack police stations.”

The statement added that three refugees were hurt.

Zaatari is home to more than 100,000 Syrian refugees.

“A woman was killed in the clashes,” an eyewitness told AFP without elaborating.

But a police spokesman denied it, insisting that “nobody was killed.”

Since opening two years ago, Zaatari has seen several protests, mainly over poor living conditions.

Jordan is home to more than 500,000 Syrian refugees.