Jordanian forces capture three suspects in Karak church shooting

Jordan has a large Christian minority, but a deadly attack on a place of worship in the Karak governorate has placed national security in the spotlight. On Monday, state media reported that security forces arrested three armed men following a multi-day search for the individuals who opened fire at a church funeral earlier in the week.

The Public Security Directorate stated that officers located the suspects hiding inside an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda. The three men refused to surrender and engaged the police in a firefight that lasted approximately three hours. Officers returned fire and wounded all three suspects before taking them into custody.

A government source told Al Jazeera that the attackers sustained serious injuries during the confrontation. One suspect was in critical condition following the exchange of gunfire. Petra News Agency reported that no security personnel were killed or injured. A subsequent search of the abandoned house turned up firearms and live ammunition.

The initial attack occurred on Friday when three gunmen targeted a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud. The village is located approximately 120 kilometers southwest of the capital, Amman. The Ministry of Health confirmed that eight people died in the shooting and 40 were injured. 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 undergoing surgery. Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani praised the security operation in a post on X. He described the effort as a successful joint operation and confirmed that the three suspects were injured and detained after refusing to give up.

King Abdullah II told the families of the victims that those responsible would face the harshest penalties. He ordered a review of the country's security procedures for responding to attacks. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are examining the circumstances that lead young people to embrace violence. He added that officials will hold anyone found to have participated in the attack accountable.

The Karak region is home to a large portion of Jordan's Christian community. The minority group numbers about 300,000 people in a country with a total population of 11.5 million. The Public Security Directorate stated that the suspects met their just fate. The statement did not identify a specific group affiliated with the attackers.