Three Suspects Wounded in Shootout Following Karak Church Attack

Jordanian security forces detained three armed suspects on Monday following a deadly attack at a Greek Orthodox church. State television reported the arrests were made in the Karak governorate, where the initial shooting occurred on Friday.

The attack happened during a funeral service in the village of Hamoud, located approximately 120 kilometres southwest of Amman. Witnesses described a several minute period of heavy gunfire. The incident resulted in nine deaths and 40 injuries among those present.

The Public Security Directorate stated that officers located the three men hiding in an abandoned house. The suspects refused to surrender and opened fire on the security team. Officers returned the fire, wounding all three men before taking them into custody. The directorate confirmed that no security personnel were injured during the exchange and that firearms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

Authorities have characterized the gunmen as extremist terrorists, although no group has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack. The Public Security Directorate did not release the names of the suspects or specify any links to Islamist militant organizations. In a statement, the directorate declared that terrorism has no place in Jordan and that the suspects met their just fate.

King Abdullah ordered security forces to respond with an iron fist to the rare assault on the country's Christian minority. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said officials are reviewing the factors that drive young people toward extremism. He added that anyone found to have participated in the attack would be held accountable.

Jordan is generally considered stable in the Middle East, though officials say they have disrupted multiple Islamist militant plots in previous years. The three suspects remain in custody as the investigation continues.