Jordan sentences 5 IS members to death

A Jordanian man takes pictures amidst rain and tear gas fired by security forces to disperse local residents angry about the attack, next to Karak Castle, during an ongoing attack, in the central town of Karak, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital Amman in Jordan, Sunday, Dec.18, 2016. Officials say gunmen have carried out a series of attacks in central Jordan, including at the Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing four members of the Jordanian security forces and a woman visiting from Canada. AP

AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan’s official news agency says the State Security Court has sentenced five alleged members of the Islamic State group to death by hanging.

The Petra news agency said Wednesday that 15 other alleged IS members were given sentences ranging from three to 15 years in prison with hard labor.

The report says the 20 militants were convicted of killing a policeman, planning and practicing terrorist actions, manufacturing explosives, possessing weapons and promoting terrorist ideas.

The convicted IS members were arrested in a raid on their hideout in the city of Irbid in March. Seven militants and a Jordanian police officer were killed in the raid. TVJ