Jordan captures trio after church killings

Jordanian authorities took three armed men into custody on Monday after days of searching for the shooters behind a deadly attack at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate. State media reported the suspects were located hiding in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda.

The Public Security Directorate stated that the men refused to surrender and opened fire on security personnel. Forces returned the gunfire, wounding all three before securing their arrest. A government source told Al Jazeera the suspects sustained serious injuries during the three-hour confrontation. One man remains in critical condition.

Petra News Agency confirmed that no security officers were hurt during the operation. Investigators found firearms and live ammunition at the scene. The directorate issued a statement claiming that "Terrorism has no place among us" and that the suspects had met their "just fate." The release did not name a specific group linked to the attackers.

The shooting occurred on Friday at a funeral in the village of Hamoud, located 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. The Ministry of Health reported eight fatalities and 40 injuries. By Monday, 27 victims were still hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak noted that one patient remained in critical condition following surgery.

Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani described the operation as a successful joint effort in a post on X. He confirmed that all three men were detained after refusing to give themselves up. King Abdullah II offered condolences to the victims' families and stated that those responsible would face the "harshest penalties." The king also ordered a review of national security procedures.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are examining why young people embrace violence. He added that anyone found to have participated in the attack would be held accountable. Karak is home to a large portion of Jordan's Christian minority, which comprises approximately 300,000 people in the country of 11.5 million.