Story Highlights
- Historical event
- 20 July 1951
- The gunman fired three bullets into the king's head and chest. The 15-year-old Prince Hussein, the king's grandson, was at his side. Allegedly, he was also shot. However, a medal which had been pinned to his chest deflected the bullet, so he survived the attack.
On this day in 1951, the first King of Jordan was assassinated in Jerusalem. Abdullah was shot while attending Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque – one of the holiest places in Islam.
This mosque is located on the famous Temple Mount, which is one of the most important religious sites in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The famous Jewish Temple had been located there. It is interesting to note that the Templars were lodged near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, on the southern part of the Temple Mount.
Abdullah was a member of the Hashemite dynasty – one of the most powerful families in the Arab world (they also ruled Iraq, Hejaz, and Syria).
The gunman was Mustafa Ash, an Arab, and he probably killed the king because he feared that Abdullah would make a seperate peace with Israel.
The gunman fired three bullets into the king’s head and chest. The 15-year-old Prince Hussein, the king’s grandson, was at his side.
Allegedly, he was also shot. However, a medal which had been pinned to his chest deflected the bullet, so he survived the attack. It is interesting to note that, before the mentioned attack, Abdullah had wanted his grandson Hussein to wear this medal.
