Jordan arrests three after church shootout

Jordanian security forces detained three armed men on Monday following a confrontation in Karak governorate.

The arrests follow a deadly attack on a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud on Friday. That shooting killed nine people and injured 40 others. The incident occurred during a funeral service. Witnesses reported the gunfire lasted for several minutes. The village is located approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Amman.

State television reported that authorities located the suspects hiding inside an abandoned house. The Public Security Directorate stated that the three men refused to surrender. They opened fire on security forces. Officers returned fire and wounded all three suspects before taking them into custody. The directorate said no security personnel were injured during the exchange. Officers also recovered firearms and ammunition from the suspects.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya commented on the incident. He said authorities are reviewing the circumstances that led young people toward extremism. He added that anyone found to have participated in the attack will be held accountable. The directorate did not name the suspects or identify their specific militant affiliations.

King Abdullah ordered a strong response to the violence. He described the attack as a rare incident targeting the Christian minority. The king instructed security forces to respond with an iron fist. Jordan is generally considered stable in the region. However, authorities say they have stopped several Islamist militant plots in previous years.

The directorate labeled the attackers as extremist terrorists. A statement published on state media said terrorism has no place among the population. The directorate added that the suspects met their just fate. No group has publicly claimed responsibility for the Friday attack.