Jordanian Police Capture Three Gunmen Hiding in Abandoned Karak House
The suspects were wounded during a three-hour standoff days after they killed eight people at a Greek Orthodox church.
By Sofia Ramirez ·
A violent dispute between police and armed men in a rural Jordanian village ended on Monday with the capture of three suspects linked to a recent church shooting.
Jordanian security forces located the three men hiding in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda in Karak governorate. The Public Security Directorate stated that the suspects refused to surrender and opened fire on officers. Police returned fire, wounding all three men before taking them into custody.
A government source told Al Jazeera that the firefight lasted approximately three hours. One of the detained suspects is in critical condition, while the other two sustained serious injuries. Petra News Agency reported that no security personnel were hurt during the operation. Investigators found firearms and live ammunition at the scene.
The suspects were responsible for a shooting that occurred on Friday at a funeral held at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud. Three gunmen opened fire on the congregation, killing eight people and injuring 40. The village is located about 120 kilometers southwest of Amman.
As of Monday, 27 of the wounded remained in hospital beds. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak confirmed that one patient remained in critical condition following surgery.
Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani described the arrest operation as a successful joint effort in a post on X. He noted that the suspects were detained after refusing to surrender. The Public Security Directorate said in a statement that the suspects met their just fate and that terrorism has no place in the country. The statement did not name a specific group linked to the attack.
Karak is home to a large portion of Jordan's Christian minority, which numbers about 300,000 people in a nation of 11.5 million. King Abdullah II offered condolences to the victims' families and ordered a review of security procedures. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are examining the factors that lead young people to violence and that participants in the attack will be held accountable.
Source: Al Jazeera
