by Taylor Luck | Apr 15, 2013 | JORDAN TIMES

AMMAN — Authorities have seized several Jihadi Salafists along the Kingdom’s shared border with Syria, a local security source said on Monday.

Border patrols seized a group of eight Jordanians allegedly attempting to cross into Syria late Saturday to join jihadist fighters currently battling regime forces, the source noted.

Authorities arrested the group near the northern village of Al Turra across from the Syrian border town of Tal Shihab, according to the source, who is not authorised to speak to the press.

The men had several weapons in their possession at the time of the arrest, according to the source, including semi-automatic rifles and caches of explosives.

Moussa Abdullat, defence attorney and legal representative of the Jordanian jihadist movement, confirmed the incident, adding that the eight men — residents of Amman and Zarqa — were referred to the State Security Court where they currently await charges.

Jordanian jihadist leaders criticised the arrest, accusing the government of “serving the interests” of the Syrian regime.

“These young men were observant Muslims following their religious duty to protect their brothers and sisters against a God-less regime,” said Mohammad Al Shalabi, or Abu Sayyaf, head of the Jordanian jihadist movement.

“We call on the government to free these men and ease border restrictions to allow the Muslim nation to end the atrocities in Syria.”

Islamist hardliners claim some 500 Jordanians are currently fighting alongside Jihadi Salafist forces within Syria.

Meanwhile, the Jordanian jihadist movement confirmed the death of Khaled Qaqoush in Syria — raising to 33 the total number of Jordanians confirmed to be killed while fighting alongside Islamic militants.

According to the movement, the 40-year-old Amman resident died while fighting alongside Jabhat Al Nusra forces outside the southern city of Daraa late Thursday.