Jordan's government spokesman said a "terrorist attack" on a local office of the national intelligence agency near the capital Amman on Monday killed five employees.

Such attacks are rare in pro-Western Jordan, a key member of the US-led military coalition against Islamic State terrorists in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.

Jordanian television reported that Mohammed Momani, the government spokesman, said the attack took place before 7 a.m. local time (0400GMT) on Monday, the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in the Palestinian refugee camp of Baqaa.

According to Momani, the assailants killed three guards, a handyman and a receptionist. It was not clarified how they carried out the attack. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

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