Jordan Captures Three Suspects After Fatal Church Attack in Karak
Security forces neutralized the gunmen after a three-hour standoff, days after eight people were killed during a funeral service.
By Maya Almasi ·
Jordanian authorities have detained three armed suspects responsible for a deadly attack on a religious site in the country's southwest. The arrests ended a multi-day search for the individuals who fired upon mourners at a Greek Orthodox church in the Karak governorate.
The Public Security Directorate announced on Monday that the suspects were found hiding in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda. The men refused to surrender and opened fire on security personnel. A confrontation ensued that lasted approximately three hours before forces wounding all three suspects and taking them into custody.
A government source stated that the attackers sustained serious injuries during the exchange. One suspect was reported to be in critical condition following the engagement. Petra News Agency noted that no security personnel were killed, though the site yielded firearms and live ammunition.
The initial attack occurred on Friday when three gunmen opened fire at a funeral held in the village of Hamoud, located roughly 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. The Ministry of Health reported that eight people were killed and 40 were injured in the shooting. As of Monday, 27 of those injured remained hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak indicated that one patient was in critical condition after undergoing surgery.
Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani described the operation as a successful joint effort in a post on social media. He confirmed that all three suspects were injured and detained after refusing to yield. The Public Security Directorate stated that terrorism has no place in the country, referring to the suspects as having met their just fate without naming specific groups.
Karak is a hub for Jordan's Christian minority, which constitutes approximately 300,000 of the nation's 11.5 million residents. King Abdullah II pledged that those behind the attack would face the harshest penalties and ordered a review of security procedures for responding to such incidents. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya added that authorities are examining the factors that lead young people to embrace violence and will hold all participants accountable.
Source: Al Jazeera
