AMMAN - A committee probing a July 15 attack against journalists and protesters held the Public Security Department (PSD) accountable for the incident.

In its report, the panel, which comprised three senior police officers, requested more time to examine video footage and identify those who were actually involved in the assault, noting that 800 PSD personnel were at the site that day.

The violence left 20 journalists injured, five of whom were hospitalised, along with a dozen protesters and 32 policemen.

According to the report, which was announced at a press conference yesterday by Minister of Interior Mazen Saket, clashes occurred because protesters refused to hold the sit-in at Al Nakheel Square as planned, and decided to move forward to an adjacent area where a so-called loyalist group was holding another rally, while police served as a buffer between the rival groups to prevent friction.

Police officers tried to convince protesters to remain at the square, but they refused to do so and some began cursing and attacking PSD personnel. Police officers were injured, two of whom badly hurt, the report said.

“Hearing the obscene language used by protesters, other policemen got involved and beat some of the protesters,” the document, which was obtained by the media, added.

Reporters and photojournalists were caught in the crossfire and allegedly beaten by counter-protesters and police despite preventative measures taken by police and media organisations to protect journalists, including the distribution of orange vests and an instant hotline to field complaints.

Commenting on the report, Jordan Press Association (JPA) President Tareq Momani said: “The association is waiting for those involved to be identified and to be held accountable,” stressing the police “sincerity in this regard”.

“The police will hold those responsible to account,” said the chief of the JPA, where the press conference took place.

A media activist did not believe the police did a good job in the probe.

Centre for Defending Freedom of Journalists President Nidal Mansour said: “The videos the centre handed to police were clear and those involved should be easily recognised.”

“They were obviously part of a police formation assigned for the sit-in,” he explained.

“The inquiry report is below expectations for several obvious reasons,” Mansour told The Jordan Times.

“Initially, it was not prepared by an independent body to guarantee fairness,” he said.

“The responsibility does not only fall on those who carried out the attacks, but also on who gave the orders and those who saw violations take place and kept quiet,” Mansour added.

As part of its recommendations, the report advised PSD Director Lieutenant General Hussein Majali to meet with several parties, including PSD top officers, to stress the need to respect the freedom of speech and press freedom, and with media leaders to mend fences with the press and the public.

PSD director yesterday met with Momani and other members of the JPA council. During the meeting attended by Saket, Majali apologised on behalf of the police department, Momani told The Jordan Times.

The inquiry report also mentioned that the PSD should emphasise its impartiality and mission in securing protection to all people, urging the media to take notice of the positive and noble duties performed by the police, rather than only focusing on negative aspects.