Three-Hour Shootout Ends as Jordan Captures Church Attackers

A three-hour gun battle concluded Monday morning when Jordanian security forces captured three suspects in a village in the Karak governorate. The arrest operation ended a manhunt that began after an attack on a Greek Orthodox church on Friday, which left eight people dead and 34 others wounded.

The suspects were hiding in an abandoned house in the village of al-Jadeeda, located roughly six minutes by car from the village of Hamoud where the shooting occurred. Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh stated that the three men, who are brothers from the same family, refused to surrender. They opened fire on the security team, leading to an exchange that lasted until all three were taken into custody.

Al-Farrayeh reported that the suspects sustained severe injuries during the raid. One was critically hurt. Security forces recovered firearms and ammunition from the hideout. The minister said the search expanded over several days, with multiple locations raided before the final operation surrounded the trio.

The attack took place during a funeral procession at St. George’s Church. Footage from security cameras shows armed men shooting outside the building and firing on people attempting to flee. The church is located near a medieval-era castle in a region known for its Christian minority population. In the Muslim-majority kingdom, Christians make up between 2 percent and 3 percent of the total population.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II ordered a forceful response to the incident. He described the security and safety of citizens as a red line and said the hand of justice would reach every terrorist. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared three days of national mourning. Flags were flown at half-mast over government buildings, and the victims were buried in Karak on Sunday. Their coffins were draped with national flags during a funeral attended by a large crowd.

The Public Security Directorate said no specific group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Al-Farrayeh described the perpetrators as extremists with no relationship to humanity. He said investigations are ongoing and that everyone involved will be taken to justice. The ministry added that practical measures will be implemented to protect civilians and urged the public to remain calm.

The next steps in the investigation remain focused on determining the full scope of the plot. Authorities have not named the suspects publicly. The three arrested men are being treated for their injuries in custody.