Karak church attackers: Three suspects captured after standoff

Jordanian security forces captured three armed suspects on Monday after they resisted arrest in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda. The men were identified as the attackers responsible for a deadly shooting at a Greek Orthodox church earlier in the week. They refused to surrender and opened fire on officers, who returned fire and detained all three after wounding them.

The confrontation lasted approximately three hours. A government source described the suspects as sustaining serious injuries during the exchange. One suspect remained in critical condition following the fight. Security personnel reported no casualties during the operation. Investigators recovered firearms and live ammunition from the site.

The capture concludes a search that began Friday. On that day, three gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a church in the village of Hamoud, located about 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. The attack killed eight people and injured 40, according to Jordan's Ministry of Health. As of Monday, 27 of the injured were still hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak confirmed that one patient remained in critical condition after surgery.

Government officials praised the swift response to the incident. Mohammad Momani, the Minister of Government Communication, posted on social media early Monday that the security forces conducted a successful joint operation. He confirmed that all three suspects were injured and taken into custody. The Public Security Directorate issued a statement asserting that the suspects had met their just fate. The statement did not name specific groups affiliated with the attackers.

Karak is home to a large portion of Jordan's Christian minority. That community numbers approximately 300,000 people within the country's total population of 11.5 million. King Abdullah II addressed the nation following the shooting. He promised the harshest penalties for those responsible and ordered a review of national security procedures for responding to attacks.

Mazen al-Faraya, the Interior Minister, stated that authorities are examining the factors that drive young people to violence. He added that anyone found to have participated in the Karak attack would be held accountable. The next steps involve the medical treatment of the three suspects and the ongoing hospitalization of the injured victims.

The three suspects are now in custody. Medical teams are treating their gunshot wounds. The remaining injured victims continue to receive care in local hospitals. Security forces have completed their search of the abandoned house in Al-Jadeeda.