Manama: Four people were killed and 25 were injured in armed clashes between students at a Jordanian university on Monday, Jordanian media reported.
Hassan Al Khattab, dean of student affairs at the university, told local daily The Jordan Times that the victims were a university employee, an off-duty policeman and two visitors, including a 15-year-old.
The Public Security Department (PSD) said that the fight erupted between students and their relatives on the university campus, 220km south of the capital Amman and that 22 were arrested for possessing weapons.
Witnesses said that the fight was between students affiliated with two tribes who were reportedly supplied with weapons from their relatives outside.
According to a witness account in the Jordanian daily, the fight began with an argument between a Maani student and Bedouin students who had erected a traditional tent as part of festivities to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the state-run university
“The clash escalated when relatives of the students became involved and introduced weapons into the fight,” an eyewitness told the daily.
Classes have been suspended until Sunday and the suspension could be prolonged for a longer period “if the administration deems it necessary”.
Around 8,000 students attend the university.
The fatal incident was the second to hit a Jordanian university in April, the daily said. On April 2, a student was killed at Mutah University in Karak, 130km south of Amman, in a fight that also involved the use of weapons.
