Death toll in Jordan shootout rises to 10

Jordanian policemen operate in the vicinity of Karak Castle, where armed gunmen carried out an attack, in the city of Karak, Jordan, December 18, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

AMMAN - The death toll in a shooting in Jordan on Sunday rose to 10, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

Six policemen, three citizens and a Canadian tourist were killed in the shooting when a group of unidentified gunmen opened fire at a police patrol near the Karak Castle in the south of Jordan, the report quoted the Public Security Department.

The police said an operation to take down the gunmen who were hiding in the castle is underway.

"I was near the castle around 2:00 pm when I heard a heavy exchange of fire. It was scary," a tour guide who works in Karak told Xinhua.

"I was with a group of tourists when the shootout happened, people started running in panic," the guide said.