Jordanian forces capture three armed men after Karak church shooting
The suspects were wounded during a three-hour firefight in an abandoned house after killing eight at a funeral.
By Pablo Harrison ·
Jordanian security forces took three armed men into custody on Monday after a three-hour standoff in the village of Al-Jadeeda. The suspects had been hiding in an abandoned house in Karak governorate. State media reported that the men refused to surrender and opened fire on approaching officers. The forces returned fire and wounded all three before securing the site. A government source stated that one suspect remains in critical condition while the others sustained serious injuries. The search of the location uncovered firearms and live ammunition. No security personnel were reported as casualties.
The arrests follow a shooting at a Greek Orthodox church funeral in the nearby village of Hamoud. Three gunmen opened fire on Friday, killing eight people and injuring 40. The attack took place roughly 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. The Ministry of Health confirmed the casualty figures. As of Monday, 27 injured victims remained hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak noted that one patient was in critical condition following surgery.
Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani described the capture as a successful joint operation in a post on X. He confirmed that the three suspects were injured and detained after the confrontation. The Public Security Directorate issued a statement saying that terrorism had no place among the population. The directorate claimed the suspects met their just fate without naming specific affiliated groups.
Jordan’s Christian minority numbers approximately 300,000 people within a national population of 11.5 million. Karak serves as a major center for this community. King Abdullah II ordered a review of national security procedures for responding to attacks. He promised the harshest penalties for those behind the violence while offering condolences to the families of the victims. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya stated that authorities are examining why young people embrace violence. He said anyone found to have participated in the attack would face accountability.
Source: Al Jazeera
