Jordan captures three armed men days after church shooting
Police wounded the suspects during a three-hour standoff in an abandoned house, ending a search that began after eight people were killed at a funeral.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
Eight people died and 40 others were injured when gunmen opened fire at a funeral in Jordan's Karak governorate. The victims attended a service at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud on Friday, according to the Ministry of Health.
Security forces located the three suspects on Monday. They were hiding in an abandoned house in the nearby village of Al-Jadeeda. The Public Security Directorate stated that the men refused to surrender and engaged officers in combat. The confrontation lasted approximately three hours. Police returned fire and wounded all three suspects before taking them into custody. A government source described the injuries as serious, with one suspect in critical condition. No security personnel were killed or injured. Officers recovered firearms and live ammunition from the site.
The attack occurred on Friday in a region about 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. Karak is a historic center for Jordan's Christian community. This group numbers approximately 300,000 individuals within a national population of 11.5 million. The Ministry of Health reported that 27 injured patients remained in hospital care on Monday. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital confirmed that one patient was in critical condition following surgery.
Government officials addressed the incident on Monday. Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani praised the security operation on social media. He described the joint effort as successful. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya stated that authorities are reviewing why young people turn to violence. He added that those responsible for the attack would be held accountable. King Abdullah II offered condolences to the families of the victims. He ordered a review of national security procedures for responding to such attacks and said the perpetrators would face the harshest penalties.
The Public Security Directorate issued a statement saying terrorism has no place in Jordan. The directorate described the outcome for the suspects as a just fate. The statement did not name specific groups affiliated with the attackers. Petra News Agency reported the details of the search and the recovery of weapons from the abandoned house in Al-Jadeeda.
