A retired teacher from Newfoundland was fatally shot in Jordan while visiting her son in the Middle Eastern country, CTV News has learned.
Linda Vatcher was killed after gunmen ambushed Jordanian police in a series of attacks on Sunday. Her son, Chris Vatcher, was wounded in the attack, family members told CTV News.
At least 34 people were killed in the bloody siege in and around Karak, about 140 kilometres south of the capital city of Amman. Jordanian officials say gunmen opened fire on a police station in Karak Castle, a Crusader fort and popular tourist destination, and a security patrol elsewhere in the city.
Canadian officials tweeted a warning to any Canadian tourists in the region to avoid Karak. Officials have also confirmed that one Canadian was killed and another injured.
Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion offered condolences to the victims’ loved ones and said the Canadian embassy is providing consular assistance to Canadians in the area.
In a statement, Global Affairs Canada said that Canadian officials in Amman are “actively working with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to Canadians at this difficult time.”
