Three armed suspects captured after eight killed at Jordan church
Security forces wounded the men during a three-hour standoff in an abandoned house in Al-Jadeeda village.
By Nicholas Martin ·
Jordanian police have detained three armed men following a shootout in the Karak governorate.
The suspects were located on Monday in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda.
According to the Public Security Directorate, the men refused to surrender and opened fire on officers.
Security forces returned fire and wounded all three suspects before taking them into custody.
A government source described the injuries as serious, noting that one suspect is in critical condition.
The confrontation lasted approximately three hours without any casualties among security personnel.
Petra News Agency reported that firearms and live ammunition were recovered from the site.
The attack occurred on Friday when three gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church funeral in the nearby village of Hamoud.
The shooting took place about 120 kilometers southwest of Amman, killing eight people and injuring 40.
As of Monday, 27 injured individuals remained hospitalized, with one patient in critical condition at Prince Ali Military Hospital.
Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani confirmed the arrests in a post on X, calling the operation successful.
He stated that the suspects were injured and taken into custody after refusing to surrender during the joint operation. The Public Security Directorate said in a statement that terrorism has no place in Jordan and that the suspects met their just fate. The statement did not identify any specific affiliated groups. King Abdullah II ordered a review of national security procedures for responding to attacks. He stated that those responsible would face the harshest penalties and offered condolences to the victims' families. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are reviewing the factors 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, which numbers approximately 300,000 out of a total population of 11.5 million.
Source: Al Jazeera
