"約旦破獲蓋達策謀者"

官方表示，這群男子計畫攻擊購物中心和西方國家外交人員。

約旦當局逮捕11名男子，疑似和一起恐怖攻擊計畫有關。根據此中東國家的官員表示，這些人計畫要暗殺西方國家的外交人員，並攻擊首都安曼的購物中心。政府發言人馬埃塔表示，這群人從敘利亞獲得武器，並向伊拉克的蓋達組織人員學習爆炸訓練。

約旦是美國重要的區域同盟，之前曾是蓋達攻擊的犧牲者。最嚴重的一起意外發生在2005年11月9日，60人在三起旅館爆炸案中身亡。國內高階官員說，遭逮捕的策謀者計畫要在2005年攻擊事件周年展開行動。

約旦國有報社佩特拉報報導，這起攻擊的目的是要「製造高度破壞的爆炸，會造成史上最高傷亡人數和最廣泛的實質損傷。」這樣的攻擊事件可能也造成民眾在一月的國會大選前感到心神不寧。雖然約旦政府是自由開放的，但該國也是一個期望設立伊斯蘭教法的團體的發源地。

(International) Jordan Captures Al-Qaeda Plotters

Officials say the men planned to attack shopping malls and Western diplomats.

Authorities in Jordan have arrested eleven men in connection with an alleged terrorist plot. According to officials in the Middle Eastern nation, the men were planning to assassinate Western diplomats and also strike at shopping malls in the capital city of Amman. Samih Maayta, a government spokesman, said the men had received weapons from Syria and explosives training from al-Qaeda agents in Iraq.

Jordan, which is an important regional ally of the US, has been the victim of al-Qaeda attacks before. The most serious incident came on November 9, 2005 when 60 people died after three hotels were bombed. Senior officials in the country say the arrested plotters planned to strike on the anniversary of the 2005 attack.

Jordanian state news agency Petra reported that the aim of the alleged attack was to create a highly destructive explosive that would cause the highest number of casualties and extensive physical damage. Such a strike would also have unsettled the public in the run up to parliamentary elections, which are due in January. Although Jordans government is liberal, the country is home to a group that wants to see Islamic Sharia law installed.

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