Jordanian Forces Capture Three Suspects in Karak Church Attack
A three-hour gun battle in a rural village ended after security forces cornered the brothers and their relative who stormed a Greek Orthodox church on Friday.
By Stella Brooks ·
Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects on Monday morning following a three-hour exchange of fire in the village of al-Jadeeda. The suspects, who authorities said are members of the same family, had been hiding in an abandoned house when police surrounded the location. Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed the arrests in a statement, noting that the men were identified early in the investigation.
The suspects, described as two brothers and another relative, resisted capture. A senior security official told journalists on Monday that the group refused to surrender and opened fire on security forces. The forces returned fire, subduing the men and sustaining severe injuries. One suspect is critically wounded, according to the Public Security Directorate. Security officials recovered firearms and ammunition from the hideout, which is located six minutes from the site of the original attack.
The arrests conclude a rapid response to the attack on St. George’s Church in the village of Hamoud, Karak governorate. On Friday, armed men stormed the church compound during a funeral procession. Eight people were killed and 34 others were wounded. The attack is rare in the region, where Christians make up between 2 percent and 3 percent of the population. King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond with an “iron fist” to the incident.
Security camera footage broadcast by Al-Mamlaka TV shows three individuals shooting outside the church and moving toward the entrance. Other video captures the attackers firing on a group of men attempting to flee the building. The Public Security Directorate has not named the suspects or identified any specific armed group affiliation. No external group has claimed responsibility for the shooting as of Monday.
Minister al-Farrayeh described the suspects as “extremists” with “no relationship to humanity” in a post on social media. He stated that investigations are ongoing and that everyone involved in the act will be taken to justice. The minister added that Jordan is adamant that such an attack does not happen again. He urged citizens to remain calm and rejected violence, promising practical measures to protect civilians.
The victims were laid to rest in Karak on Sunday. Their coffins were draped with Jordanian flags as they were carried through a large crowd of mourners. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan ordered three days of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast over government institutions. King Abdullah II met with the victims and their families during a National Security Council meeting on Saturday.
The king stated that the security and safety of Jordanians are a red line. He added that the hand of justice will reach every terrorist. A day before the funeral, he had said the shooting would be met with the “harshest retaliation” possible. The investigation continues as authorities examine the circumstances that led the suspects toward extremism.
The search for the suspects involved raids on multiple locations in Karak governorate. Authorities expanded the scope of the search until they surrounded the group in al-Jadeeda. The final operation ended with all three men in custody. The village of Hamoud, where the church is located, is known for its medieval-era castle and serves as a focal point for the local Christian minority.
