Jordan Police Capture Three Gunmen in Church Attack

Jordanian security forces detained three armed men on Monday following a fatal shooting at a church in the Karak governorate. The arrests ended a brief manhunt for the suspects involved in Friday's attack.

The violence erupted during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud, located roughly 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. Witnesses reported that gunfire continued for several minutes. The incident left nine people dead and 40 others wounded.

The Public Security Directorate stated that officers located the three men hiding in an abandoned house in Karak. The suspects refused to surrender and opened fire on security personnel. Officers returned the fire, wounding the men before taking them into custody. Officials said no security personnel were injured during the exchange.

Police recovered multiple firearms and ammunition from the detained suspects. While the directorate described the attackers as extremist terrorists, no group has officially claimed responsibility. Authorities have not released the suspects' names or confirmed specific ties to Islamist militant organizations.

King Abdullah ordered security forces to respond with an iron fist to the rare assault on the country's Christian minority. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said officials are examining the circumstances that pushed young people toward extremism. He added that anyone found to have participated in the attack would be held accountable.