One gunman was killed and three Jordanian police were wounded after gunfire broke out near the heavily fortified Israeli embassy in the capital Amman early Sunday, a security source and state media said.

Police shot dead the gunman when he opened fire on a police patrol in the affluent Rabiah district of the Jordanian capital, the state-run Petra news agency reported, citing public security, adding that investigations were ongoing. The gunman was carrying an automatic weapon and soon after incident Authorities chased him for at least an hour before killing him shortly before dawn, a security source said.

Jordan’s communications minister, Mohammed Momani, described the shooting as a terrorist attack which targeted the country’s public security forces. He said in a statement that investigations are underway into the incident.

“Breach of nation’s security and attack on security personnel will be met with strong response,” Momani told Reuters, adding that the gunman he had a criminal record for drug trafficking.

Jordanian police cordoned off an area near the heavily policed ​​embassy after shots were fired, witnesses said. Two witnesses said police and ambulances rushed to the Rabiah area, where the embassy is located.

The area is a flash point as demonstrations often start from there.