Three men detained after Jordan church funeral shooting

Jordanian authorities have taken three armed men into custody. The suspects were linked to a shooting that killed nine people during a funeral service.

The attack occurred on Friday at a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud. This village lies in Karak governorate, about 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. Forty additional people were injured. Witnesses described the gunfire as lasting several minutes.

State television reported that a shootout took place on Monday. Security forces located the three men hiding in an abandoned house in Karak. The suspects refused to surrender and opened fire on the officers. The security team returned fire, wounding all three before detaining them.

Jordan's Public Security Directorate stated that no officers were hurt. Officials found firearms and ammunition in the possession of the suspects. The directorate labeled the group "extremist terrorists" but did not name the individuals. It also did not link them to a specific Islamist organization.

King Abdullah ordered security forces to respond with an "iron fist." He cited the need to protect the country's Christian minority from this rare form of violence. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said officials are reviewing why young people turn to extremism. He promised that all participants would be held accountable.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Jordan is generally considered stable in the Middle East. Authorities have previously foiled several Islamist plots over the years.