Three Arrested in Jordan Church Attack

Eight people died in a gun attack at a church funeral in Jordan last Friday, a figure that stands as the deadliest mass shooting in the country in recent years. Security forces arrested three suspects on Monday after days of searching the Karak governorate. The attackers were found hiding in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda.

The Public Security Directorate reported that the suspects refused to surrender and opened fire on security personnel. The confrontation lasted approximately three hours. Forces returned fire and wounded all three men before taking them into custody. A government source stated that one suspect was in critical condition due to injuries sustained during the exchange. No security personnel were killed in the skirmish.

Search teams recovered firearms and live ammunition from the site of the standoff. Petra News Agency, Jordan's state news service, published details of the operation. The directorate described the event as a joint operation that ended the suspects' search. It did not specify which group the men belonged to, though it noted that the attackers had met their just fate.

The initial shooting took place on Friday at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud. Three gunmen targeted mourners attending a funeral. The attack left 40 people injured according to the Ministry of Health. As of Monday, 27 of those injured remained hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak said one patient was still in critical condition following surgery.

Hamoud is located about 120 kilometers southwest of Amman, the capital. The Karak governorate is home to a large portion of Jordan's Christian minority. Approximately 300,000 Christians live in a country with a total population of 11.5 million. Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani praised the security forces for their successful response to the incident.

King Abdullah II ordered a review of the country's security procedures for responding to attacks. He stated that those responsible would face the harshest penalties. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are examining the factors that lead young people to embrace violence. He added that anyone found to have participated in the attack would be held accountable.

The suspects were identified as armed men who had been on the run since Friday. Their capture marks the end of a multi-day manhunt in the region. The security forces maintained a presence in the area to prevent further incidents. The families of the victims received condolences from the royal family and the government.