Three suspects captured in Jordan after church shooting killed eight

Three armed suspects were arrested on Monday after a three-hour firefight in the village of Al-Jadeeda in Jordan’s Karak governorate.

The suspects were hiding in an abandoned house when security forces located them. They refused to surrender and opened fire on officers, who returned the gunfire. All three men were wounded during the confrontation before being taken into custody.

A Jordanian government source stated that the attackers sustained serious injuries. One suspect was in critical condition following the exchange of fire. No security personnel were killed during the operation. A search of the location revealed firearms and live ammunition.

The arrests conclude a search for the men responsible for a deadly attack on Friday. Three gunmen opened fire at a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud, located about 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. The Ministry of Health reported that eight people were killed and 40 were injured in the shooting.

As of Monday, 27 injured survivors remained hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak said one patient was in critical condition after undergoing surgery.

Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani described the capture as a successful joint operation. He confirmed on social media that all three suspects were injured and in custody. The Public Security Directorate stated that the suspects met their just fate without naming specific groups.

Karak is home to a large portion of Jordan’s Christian minority, which numbers approximately 300,000 out of the country’s 11.5 million residents. King Abdullah II ordered a review of security procedures for responding to attacks. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are reviewing factors that lead young people to violence and will hold participants accountable.