3 Armed Men Captured After 8 Killed in Karak Church Attack
Security forces ended a three-hour standoff in an abandoned house, leaving one suspect in critical condition and 27 victims hospitalized.
By Renata Mehta ·
Three armed men were taken into custody on Monday after a three-hour firefight in a Jordanian village.
On Friday, gunmen opened fire at a funeral held at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud, located in the Karak governorate. The Ministry of Health reported that eight people were killed and 40 were injured in the incident. The village sits approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Amman, the capital city.
Authorities launched a search for the attackers following the initial shooting. On Monday, security forces located the three suspects hiding in an abandoned house in the nearby village of Al-Jadeeda. According to the Public Security Directorate, the men refused to surrender and opened fire on officers. Security forces returned fire, wounding all three individuals before taking them into custody. Petra News Agency confirmed that the site yielded firearms and live ammunition, with no casualties reported among security personnel.
A government source stated that one suspect is in critical condition following the confrontation. As of Monday, 27 of the injured victims remained in hospital care. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak noted that one patient was in critical condition after undergoing surgery.
Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani posted a statement on X early Monday, describing the operation as a successful joint effort by security forces. The Public Security Directorate issued a statement on state media, declaring that terrorism has no place among them. The directorate also noted that the suspects met their just fate without naming any specific affiliated groups.
King Abdullah II has ordered a review of national security procedures for responding to attacks. He stated that those responsible for the violence would face the harshest penalties while offering condolences to the families of the victims. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya added that authorities are reviewing the circumstances that lead young people to embrace violence. He confirmed that anyone found to have participated in the attack will be held accountable. Karak is home to a large portion of Jordan's Christian minority, which comprises roughly 300,000 of the country's 11.5 million residents.
Source: Al Jazeera
