Jordanian police arrest three family members in connection with deadly church attack
Security forces captured the suspects after a three-hour exchange of fire in Karak, where eight people were killed during a funeral service.
By Jason Kovalenko ·
Jordanian security forces captured three men on Monday in a dawn raid that ended a multi-location search for individuals linked to the shooting at St George’s Church. The suspects, all members of the same family, were found in an abandoned house in the village of al-Jadeeda, located in the Karak governorate. They resisted arrest and engaged the police in a firefight that lasted approximately three hours before being subdued.
Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed the arrests during a press conference on Monday. He stated that the three Jordanian men were identified shortly after the incident occurred on Friday. Al-Farrayeh noted that the suspects sustained severe injuries during the operation, with one described as critically wounded. Security teams recovered firearms and ammunition from the hideout, according to the state news agency Petra.
The initial attack took place on Friday when armed men entered the church compound during a funeral procession. Eight people were killed and 34 others were wounded in the shooting, which occurred in the village of Hamoud. This area is known for its medieval-era castle. The Public Security Directorate described the perpetrators as extremist terrorists but did not publicly name the suspects or identify specific affiliations with other armed groups. A senior security official told journalists on Monday that no ties to external groups had been found.
Footage from security cameras circulated online, showing three individuals firing outside the church before running toward the entrance. Additional video captured the attackers shooting at a group of men attempting to flee the building. The incident marked a rare violent event against the Christian minority in the region. Christians constitute between 2 percent and 3 percent of Jordan’s population, with a notable presence in Karak.
King Abdullah II ordered a forceful response to the attack, instructing security forces to act with an iron fist. During a National Security Council meeting on Saturday, the King declared that the safety of Jordanians was a red line and that justice would reach every terrorist involved. He had previously stated the following day that the shooting would face the harshest retaliation possible. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan ordered three days of national mourning, beginning on Friday, with flags flying at half-mast over government institutions.
The eight victims were buried in Karak on Sunday in a ceremony attended by a large crowd. Their coffins, draped in Jordanian flags, were carried through the mourners under a heavy security presence. Images shared on social media identified one of the victims as Mohammad al-Qasous, a Christian. The community continues to observe the period of mourning while authorities finalize their investigation into the circumstances that led to the attack.
Al-Farrayeh said on Monday that the investigation remains ongoing. He emphasized that Jordan is determined to prevent similar incidents in the future and that everyone involved in the terrorist act will be brought to justice. The minister urged citizens to remain calm and reject violence, promising practical measures to protect civilians. He stated that the government is examining all factors that may drive young people toward extremism. The Public Security Directorate added that the suspects have met their just fate and that terrorism has no place in the country.
