Jordanian Forces: Three Suspects Arrested in Church Attack

Security forces in Jordan detained three armed men on Monday after a three-hour standoff in the village of Al-Jadeeda. The suspects were located in an abandoned house in the Karak governorate, where they had been hiding since Friday.

The Public Security Directorate stated that the men refused to surrender and opened fire on officers. Security personnel returned fire, wounding all three suspects before securing their arrest. A government source noted that the attackers sustained serious injuries during the confrontation, with one man listed in critical condition.

Jordan’s Petra News Agency reported that no security personnel were killed in the exchange. A search of the abandoned property uncovered firearms and live ammunition. The directorate declared that the suspects had met their just fate, though it did not name a specific group affiliation.

Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani confirmed the arrests in a statement posted on X. He described the event as a successful joint operation and verified that all three men were injured and taken into custody after refusing to yield to police demands.

The arrests follow a deadly shooting on Friday at a funeral service in the village of Hamoud. Three gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church located approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. The Ministry of Health reported eight fatalities and 40 injuries during the attack.

As of Monday, 27 of the injured remained hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak said one patient was in critical condition following surgery. The Karak governorate is home to a large portion of Jordan’s Christian minority, which numbers roughly 300,000 out of a total population of 11.5 million.

King Abdullah II ordered a review of national security procedures for responding to attacks and 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.