Three Armed Men Detained After Fatal Shooting at Karak Church

Jordanian security forces detained three armed men on Monday following a shootout connected to a deadly attack on a Greek Orthodox church. The incident occurred in the village of Hamoud, located in Karak governorate, approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Amman.

The initial attack took place on Friday during a funeral service. Nine people died and 40 others sustained injuries. Witnesses reported that the shooting lasted for several minutes before ceasing.

According to the Public Security Directorate, the three suspects were located hiding inside an abandoned house in Karak. They resisted surrender and opened fire on the responding security teams. All three individuals were wounded during the exchange and subsequently taken into custody. Officials confirmed that no security personnel were injured and that multiple firearms and ammunition were recovered from the scene.

The directorate characterized the perpetrators as extremist terrorists, noting that no formal claim of responsibility has been made by any group. The agency stated that the suspects had met their just fate and emphasized that terrorism has no place in the country.

King Abdullah has directed security forces to apply an iron fist in response to the rare violence against the Christian minority. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are investigating the factors driving young people toward extremism. He added that all participants in the attack would be held accountable.

Jordan is generally viewed as a stable state in the Middle East, with security officials reporting that they have disrupted several Islamist plots in recent years. The Public Security Directorate has not yet named the three detainees or linked them publicly to a specific Islamist organization.