Seven people have been killed including a Canadian tourist in a shootout between police and armed men who have holed up in a Crusader-era castle in southern Jordan.
Other tourists are believed to have been taken hostage inside, police and security officials said.
Four Jordanian police were killed when the group of gunmen went on a shooting spree in the mountainous city of Karak before taking refuge in the castle, a police statement said.
Two Jordanian citizens were also killed during the attack. Nine other people have reportedly been wounded.
Between four and six gunmen continued to fire at police from the castle, a popular tourist spot, as special forces rushed to the scene from surrounding areas, a security source told Reuters.
As many as 14 tourists were reported to have been freed as police stormed the castle.
Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki told parliament "a number of security personnel" had been killed and that security forces were laying siege to the castle.
Police said gunmen shot at officers patrolling the city before entering the castle, perched on top of a hill.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks.
The Foreign Office has advised British nationals in the area to follow the instructions of the Jordanian authorities.
