Karak Church Attack: Three Suspects Captured After Three-Hour Standoff
Jordanian forces apprehended three family members in a dawn raid, recovering weapons and ending a search that began after eight were killed at St. George’s Church.
By Kevin Iyer ·
Jordanian security forces ended a search for suspects in a deadly church attack by arresting three men in a three-hour gun battle on Monday. The arrests followed an assault on St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hamoud, Karak governorate, which left eight people dead and 34 injured on Friday. The governorate is located approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Amman.
Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed that all three suspects are Jordanians and members of the same family, including two brothers. He stated that security services identified them early in the investigation but required a final operation to secure their custody. The suspects were hiding in an abandoned house in the village of al-Jadeeda, which is a six-minute drive from the attack site.
During the raid, the men refused to surrender and opened fire on approaching forces. Al-Farrayeh described the resistance as fierce, noting that the suspects were subdued after sustaining severe injuries. One suspect was reported to be critically wounded. Security forces recovered firearms and ammunition from the hideout according to the state news agency Petra.
The initial attack occurred during a funeral procession when armed men stormed the church compound. Security camera footage showed three individuals shooting outside the building and then opening fire on men attempting to flee. Authorities classified the perpetrators as extremist terrorists, a rare designation for an attack on Jordan’s small Christian community, which constitutes between 2 percent and 3 percent of the population.
King Abdullah II ordered a firm response to the incident, describing the safety of citizens as a red line. He stated that the security forces would meet the attack with an iron fist. In a National Security Council meeting on Saturday, the King declared that the hand of justice would reach every terrorist involved in the act.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan ordered three days of national mourning beginning on Friday, with flags flown at half-mast over government institutions. Eight victims were buried in Karak on Sunday in a funeral that drew a large crowd and heavy security presence. The Public Security Directorate has not named the suspects or linked them to any specific armed group, though it stated that investigations into the broader circumstances are ongoing.
Al-Farrayeh said that authorities are examining factors that drive young people toward extremism. He pledged to hold everyone involved accountable and urged citizens to remain calm. The ministry stressed that the tragedy would lead to practical measures to protect civilians, while no other group has claimed responsibility for the shooting.
