Assassination of Abdullah I of Jordan
| Assassination of Abdullah I of Jordan | |
|---|---|
The coffin of Abdullah I, on 29 July 1951 | |
| Location | Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, Jordanian West Bank |
| Coordinates | 31°46′34″N 35°14′09″E / 31.77611°N 35.23583°E |
| Date | July 20, 1951 |
| Target | Abdullah I of Jordan |
| Deaths | Abdullah I of Jordan |
| Perpetrator | Mustafa Shukri Ashshu |
On 20 July 1951, Abdullah I, the first King of Jordan, was assassinated while visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Abdullah was in Jerusalem to give a eulogy at Riad Al Solh's funeral, the first Prime Minister of Lebanon. He was attending Friday prayers at the mosque with his grandson, Prince Hussein. Abdullah was fatally shot three times in the head and chest.
The assassin, 21-year-old Mustafa Shukri Ashu, was shot dead by the King's bodyguards. Ten men were accused of plotting the murder, eight faced trial, and six were sentenced for their role in the crime. The assassination led to a succession crisis due to his son Talal.
The event marked the fourth major assassination in the Middle East in 1951, following the deaths of Riah Al Solh, Iranian Prime Minister Ali Razmara, and Iranian Education Minister Abdul Hamid Zangeneh. The killings were a sign of increased instability in the region.