IS claims deadly attack at Jordan tourist spot

The Islamic State group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for an attack at a popular tourist destination in Jordan that killed 10 people including policemen and a Canadian.

Four "soldiers of the caliphate" with machine-guns and hand grenades carried out Sunday's assault in Karak targeting Jordanian "apostate" security forces and citizens of the US-led coalition battling the militants in Syria and Iraq, an IS statement said.

The shooting spree in Karak, home to one of the region's biggest Crusader-era castles, also wounded 34 people, including a second Canadian.

Jordanian authorities said four gunmen were shot dead by police during the course of a siege that lasted several hours.

The militants had sought refuge in the Crusader castle after opening fire on police patrols and a police station in the city in southern Jordan, according to the authorities.

IS identified the four dead militants and said the attack was revenge for the US-led coalition's air campaign targeting militants in Syria and Iraq.

It also pledged to carry out further assaults on countries within the US-led coalition.

Jordan is part of the alliance and also hosts coalition troops on its territory.

On Monday, Jordanian police said they found suicide belts and other explosives in a hideout belonging to the suspects behind the Karak attack.