3 Wounded Suspects Captured Days After Karak Church Massacre
Jordanian forces found the trio in an abandoned home in Al-Jadeeda after a three-hour standoff that left all three armed men injured.
By Nikhil Petrov ·
Jordanian security forces detained three armed men on Monday, ending a multi-day search for the shooters behind a deadly attack on a Greek Orthodox church. The suspects were located in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda, according to the Public Security Directorate.
The directorate stated that the men refused to surrender and opened fire on officers who responded in kind. All three suspects were wounded during the exchange, which lasted approximately three hours. A government source told Al Jazeera that one man is in critical condition. Petra News Agency reported that no security personnel were hurt in the engagement.
Officials found firearms and live ammunition at the scene. In a statement, the directorate declared that terrorism had no place in Jordan and that the suspects had met their just fate. The report did not identify a specific group linked to the attackers. Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani confirmed the arrests on X, describing the operation as a successful joint effort.
The shooting occurred on Friday when three gunmen opened fire at a funeral in the village of Hamoud. The location is approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. The Ministry of Health reported that eight people were killed and 40 were injured. As of Monday, 27 patients remained in hospital. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak said one patient was still in critical condition following surgery.
The Karak governorate contains a large portion of Jordan’s Christian minority, which numbers about 300,000 in a population of 11.5 million. King Abdullah II offered condolences to the victims' families and stated that those responsible would face the harshest penalties. He ordered a review of the country's security procedures for responding to such attacks.
Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are examining the circumstances that lead young people to embrace violence. He added that anyone found to have taken part in the attack would be held accountable.
Source: Al Jazeera
