Jordanian Security: Three Suspects Arrested in Karak Church Attack

Jordanian security forces arrested three armed suspects on Monday, ending a search for the gunmen who killed eight people at a church funeral earlier in the week.

The suspects were located in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda within Karak governorate, according to the Public Security Directorate. The three men refused to surrender and exchanged fire with security personnel for approximately three hours. All three were wounded during the confrontation and taken into custody. No security forces were reported injured. A search of the location yielded firearms and live ammunition.

A Jordanian government source stated that one suspect was in critical condition following the shootout. The attack occurred on Friday when three gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud, located about 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. The Ministry of Health reported eight deaths and 40 injuries. As of Monday, 27 injured victims remained hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak said one patient was in critical condition after surgery.

Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani confirmed the arrests on social media, describing the event as a successful joint operation. He noted that the suspects were injured and detained after refusing to surrender. The Public Security Directorate stated that the suspects had met their just fate, though it did not name a specific affiliated group. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are reviewing the circumstances leading young people to violence and will hold all participants accountable.

Karak governorate is home to many members of Jordan's Christian minority, which numbers approximately 300,000 of the country's 11.5 million residents. King Abdullah II stated that those behind the attack would face the harshest penalties. He also ordered a review of national security procedures for responding to attacks.