Jordanian Police Capture Three Family Members in Karak Church Attack
Security forces detained three Jordanian men after a three-hour firefight in an abandoned house, following the killing of eight people at St George's Church.
By Jessica Abebe ·
Three Jordanian men were arrested on Monday after refusing to surrender during a raid in the village of al-Jadeeda. Security forces captured the suspects in connection with the Friday attack on a Greek Orthodox church in the Karak governorate, which left at least eight people dead and dozens injured.
Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed that the three detainees are Jordanian nationals and belong to the same family, including two brothers. According to the Public Security Directorate, the men were hiding in an abandoned house and opened fire on officers before being subdued. A government source stated that the exchange of gunfire lasted approximately three hours. The village is located six minutes by car from Hamoud, the site of the church attack.
Officials reported that one of the suspects suffered critical injuries during the raid. State news agency Petra noted that firearms and ammunition were recovered from the hideout. Al-Farrayeh described the suspects as having put up fierce resistance. He added that security teams raided several locations and expanded the search perimeter until the men were surrounded. Authorities have not linked the suspects to any external armed group, and no organization has claimed responsibility for the killings.
The initial attack occurred on Friday when armed men stormed St George's Church in Hamoud during a funeral procession. The gunmen killed eight people and wounded 34 others. Footage from security cameras shows individuals firing from outside the church and targeting men attempting to flee the building. King Abdullah II ordered a strong response to the attack on the country's Christian minority, describing the safety of Jordanians as a red line at a National Security Council meeting on Saturday.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared three days of national mourning, with flags lowered to half-mast on public buildings. The eight victims were buried in Karak on Sunday in a ceremony that drew a large crowd. Coffins draped in national flags were carried through the mourners under heavy security. Karak hosts a notable Christian community in a kingdom where Christians constitute between two and three percent of the population. Among the deceased identified in social media images was Mohammad al-Qasous.
Al-Farrayeh stated at a press conference that the investigation is ongoing and that all involved will face justice. He characterized the attackers as extremists with no relationship to humanity. In a post on X, the minister said officials are examining the factors that drive young people toward extremism and urged citizens to stay calm. He promised practical measures to protect civilians following the tragedy.
