Jordan captures three wounded men after Karak church attack kills eight

Jordanian security forces detained three armed men on Monday following a multi-day search for the shooters behind a deadly attack at a Greek Orthodox church. The suspects were found hiding in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda, located in Karak governorate, according to the Public Security Directorate.

The directorate stated that the men refused to surrender and opened fire on officers, who returned the attack. All three suspects were wounded during the exchange. A government source told Al Jazeera that the firefight lasted approximately three hours. One suspect is in critical condition, while the other two sustained serious injuries. No members of the security forces were reported hurt.

Petra News Agency reported that officers recovered firearms and live ammunition at the scene. Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani confirmed the detention of the three wounded men on social media, describing the operation as a successful joint effort. The Public Security Directorate issued a statement noting that the suspects met their just fate, though it did not specify a group affiliation.

The initial attack occurred on Friday when three gunmen fired into a funeral service at a church in the village of Hamoud. The location is approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. Jordan's Ministry of Health reported that eight people were killed and 40 were injured in the shooting. By Monday, 27 of the injured patients remained hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak indicated that one patient was still in critical condition following surgery.

Karak governorate has a notable Christian population. Jordan's total Christian minority numbers approximately 300,000 within a national population of 11.5 million. King Abdullah II sent condolences to the victims' families and stated that those responsible would receive the harshest penalties. He ordered a review of national security procedures for responding to attacks.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are examining the factors that lead young people to embrace violence. He stated that anyone found to have participated in the attack would be held accountable.