At least 67 people were killed and 300 wounded in suicide attacks against three hotels in the Jordanian capital Amman, the first militant strike of its kind against the kingdom.
The late evening attacks Wednesday on one of the closest United States allies in the Middle East targeted the luxury Radisson SAS, Grand Hyatt and Days Inn hotels, usually packed with foreigners.
In the deadliest blast, a suicide bomber blew himself up in a hotel ballroom during a wedding reception at the Radisson SAS causing the largest number of casualties, Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Moasher said.
A suicide bomber also detonated his charge at the entrance of the Grand Hyatt while a suicide car bomber carried out the attack on the three-star Days Inn in the Rabiyeh neighborhood where the Israeli embassy is located.
"The attacks were carried out either by individuals wearing explosives on their belts or in one instance by a car that attempted to cross through the security barrier," said Moasher.
Witnesses said a black cloud was visible over the city's commercial district and that security forces had surrounded the area.
Moasher said the majority of victims were Jordanians.
The Grand Hyatt and the Radisson SAS lie about one km from each other and are located in an upmarket area of the city, until now seen as one of the most stable and safest capitals in the Arab world.
Jordan's King Abdullah II said the deadly blasts were "terrorist acts" and pledged that "justice will pursue the criminals".
