The Jordanian authorities have dismissed reports that a Syrian refugee woman was killed at Zaatari camp after clashes with security forces broke out this weekend.
At least 22 Jordanian police were taken to hospital late Saturday after violence swept the camp, which lies in northern Jordan, the BBC reported.
Speaking to Agence France Presse (AFP), an eyewitness said: “A woman was killed in the clashes”.
A police spokesman hastily refuted the claims with Jordan’s Public Security Directorate releasing a statement saying: “dozens of Syrian refugees at the Zaatari refugee camp rioted after police detained a group of refugees after leaving the camp illegally,” according to AFP.
The statement added that 22 policemen were injured in the clashes, and that “rioters burned six tents and two caravans and tried to attack police stations”.
Reuters reported that dozens of Zaatari’s refugees were badly injured after baton-wielding anti-riot police used tear gas to disperse the rioters.
Home to some 106,000 refugees, dozens of protests have taken place in the sprawling camp since its opening two years ago, mainly over the poor living conditions.
Some 12km from the Syrian border, Zaatari is Jordan’s fourth largest city and is the second biggest refugee camp in the world.
