AMMAN

Eight people including four foreign tourists were injured on Wednesday in a knife attack in Jordan's northern city of Jerash, according to Jordanian authorities. 

"An [unidentified] individual with a knife assaulted a number of tourists, a tourist guide and a security officer when the officer tried to arrest him," Jordan's Public Security Directorate said in a statement. 

Health Minister Saad Jaber pointed out that four tourists – three Mexicans and a Swiss – and four Jordanians two of whom are officers, were injured in the attack. 

The injured have been transferred to a hospital for treatment including "four in critical conditions," the minister said. 

The assailant was arrested and interrogated while the motive behind the attack remains unclear. 

* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat