Three Gunmen Wounded and Captured in Jordan After Church Siege

Jordanian authorities detained three armed men in an abandoned house on Monday, ending days of searches for the suspects behind a fatal church shooting.

The Public Security Directorate located the trio in the village of Al-Jadeeda in Karak governorate. Officials said the men refused to surrender and opened fire on security personnel, who returned the attack. All three suspects were wounded during the exchange and taken into custody.

A government source stated that one suspect was in critical condition following the clash. The firefight lasted approximately three hours. Petra News Agency reported that no members of the security forces were injured. Investigators found firearms and live ammunition at the scene.

The directorate issued a statement declaring that terrorism has no place in the country and that the suspects met their just fate. The report did not identify a specific group linked to the attackers. Mohammad Momani, the government communication minister, praised the operation on X, describing it as a successful joint effort.

The initial attack occurred on Friday when three gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church funeral in the village of Hamoud, located 120km southwest of Amman. The Ministry of Health reported eight deaths and 40 injuries. As of Monday, 27 wounded individuals remained hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak confirmed one patient remained in critical condition after surgery.

Karak hosts a large portion of Jordan's Christian minority, which totals about 300,000 people in a nation of 11.5 million. King Abdullah II offered condolences to victims' families and ordered a review of security response procedures. He stated that those responsible would face the harshest penalties. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are examining the circumstances that lead young people to embrace violence and confirmed that participants would be held accountable.