Karak Church Attack: Three Gunmen Wounded in Final Capture

Jordanian security forces arrested three armed suspects on Monday after wounding them during a three-hour firefight. The capture ended a multi-day search for the gunmen responsible for a deadly attack at a church in the Karak governorate.

The suspects were located hiding in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda. The Public Security Directorate stated that the men refused to surrender and opened fire on officers. Security personnel returned the shots, injuring all three before taking them into custody. One suspect was in critical condition following the confrontation, according to a government source. No security officers were wounded in the exchange. A search of the property recovered firearms and live ammunition.

Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani confirmed the arrests in a post on X. He described the action as a successful joint operation. The directorate issued a statement noting that the suspects had met their just fate. The agency did not name specific affiliated groups. It declared that terrorism has no place among Jordanians.

The attack began on Friday when three gunmen opened fire at a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church. The village of Hamoud is located about 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. The Ministry of Health reported that the shooting killed eight people and injured 40. As of Monday, 27 of those injured remained hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak said one patient was in critical condition after surgery.

Karak is a hub for Jordan’s Christian minority. This religious group numbers about 300,000 out of a national population of 11.5 million. King Abdullah II ordered a review of security procedures for responding to attacks. He stated that those behind the attack would face the harshest penalties. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya added that authorities are reviewing factors that lead young people to violence. He said anyone found to have participated in the attack would be held accountable.