Three wounded gunmen captured in Jordan after church attack
Security forces detained the suspects in an abandoned house in Karak, three days after eight people were killed at a Greek Orthodox funeral.
By Karan Grant ·
Jordanian security forces detained three armed men in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda on Monday, ending a multi-day search for the shooters responsible for a deadly attack at a church in Karak governorate.
The suspects were hiding in the structure when officers located them. According to the Public Security Directorate, the men refused to surrender and opened fire on the approaching forces. The exchange of gunfire lasted approximately three hours. All three men sustained injuries during the clash and were taken into custody. A government source told Al Jazeera that one of the suspects was in critical condition.
The initial attack occurred on Friday in the village of Hamoud, located about 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. Three gunmen opened fire during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church. The Ministry of Health reported that eight people were killed and 40 were injured. By Monday, 27 of those injured remained hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak stated that one patient remained in critical condition following surgery.
State media reported that no members of the security forces were injured during the Monday operation. A search of the abandoned house revealed firearms and live ammunition. The Public Security Directorate issued a statement declaring that terrorism had no place in Jordan and that the suspects had received their just fate. The statement did not identify a specific group linked to the suspects.
Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani described the operation as a successful joint effort in a post on X. He confirmed that the three suspects were wounded and detained after refusing to give themselves up. King Abdullah II offered condolences to the victims' families and ordered a review of national security procedures. He stated that those responsible would face the harshest penalties.
Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities were examining the circumstances that lead young people to embrace violence. He added that anyone found to have participated in the attack would be held accountable. Karak is home to a large portion of Jordan's Christian minority, a community that numbers approximately 300,000 people in a population of 11.5 million.
Source: Al Jazeera
