Jordan arrests 3 suspects over Karak church attack: State TV

Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects on Monday morning following a deadly attack on a Greek Orthodox church in the Karak governorate that killed nine people and wounded dozens. The suspects were located hiding in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda, where they opened fire on officers before being wounded and detained. No group has claimed responsibility for the shooting, and authorities have not confirmed whether the individuals belong to any known militant organization. The initial attack occurred on Friday when gunmen opened fire during a funeral service at Saint George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hamoud, located approximately 120 kilometers southwest of the capital, Amman. Witnesses stated that the shooting lasted several minutes. Early reports varied on the death toll, with some officials initially citing seven or eight fatalities, but the final official count stands at nine killed and 40 injured. As of Monday, 27 of the injured remained hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak noted that one patient was in critical condition after undergoing surgery. Security forces tracked the three armed suspects to an abandoned residence early on Monday. According to the Public Security Directorate, the suspects refused to surrender and engaged officers in a firefight. The confrontation lasted approximately three hours. All three suspects were wounded during the exchange, with one reported to be in critical condition. No security personnel were injured. Officers seized firearms and live ammunition from the scene. In a statement released via state media, the directorate declared that terrorism has no place in Jordan and that the suspects had met their just fate. Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani praised the security forces for executing a successful joint operation. Interior Minister Mazen Al Farrayeh addressed the incident on social media, stating that the government is examining the circumstances driving young people toward extremism. He pledged that anyone found to have participated in the attack would be held accountable. Earlier in the week, Al Farrayeh described the perpetrators as extremist terrorists but indicated it was too early to determine if they had links to established groups inside or outside the country. A separate report cited by local media suggested that authorities possessed the names of the suspects prior to the arrest but withheld them publicly. King Abdullah II condemned the incident as an act of terrorism, warning that it would not undermine national unity. The monarch ordered security forces to respond with an iron fist and vowed to apply the harshest penalties to those responsible. On Friday, the King visited hospitals in Karak to see the wounded victims. His Royal Court released footage and photographs of his visit. Following the shooting, Jordan observed a three-day national period of mourning, with flags flown at half-mast on government buildings. Hundreds of Jordanians gathered at the same church in Hamoud on Sunday for a funeral service honoring eight of the nine victims. The gathering served as a display of solidarity within the community. Christians constitute a minority of Jordan’s population, estimated at roughly 3 percent of the 11.5 million residents, or approximately 300,000 people. The Karak governorate, which has a population of about 375,000, hosts a significant portion of this Christian community. The region is also home to several biblical sites that attract international pilgrims. Violence of this nature is considered highly unusual in Jordan, a country generally regarded as stable in the Middle East. However, authorities have stated that they have thwarted multiple militant plots in recent years. In response to the attack, security measures were tightened at malls, foreign embassies, and other sensitive locations across the country, according to the US Embassy in Amman. International reactions followed quickly. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, a Christian, condemned the heinous terrorist attack and offered condolences to the victims. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson described the assault on a place of worship during a funeral procession as especially heinous. US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz characterized the news as devastating and prayed for the victims, noting that attacks on Christians globally must be stopped. The US Embassy in Amman highlighted that Jordan is a key partner in the fight against militant groups. The investigation continues as authorities review the evidence collected from the abandoned house and the church site. The Public Security Directorate maintained that the operation to capture the suspects was completed successfully. While the immediate threat posed by the shooters has been neutralized, officials emphasized that the broader inquiry into the network and motivations behind the attack remains ongoing. The focus of the investigation includes determining how the suspects obtained weapons and identifying any potential accomplices who may still be at large.