Three suspects captured after three-hour shootout in Jordan
Authorities seized weapons from a hideout in al-Jadeeda, ending a manhunt that began after eight people were killed at a church in Karak.
By Aiko Lombardi ·
Jordanian police ended a manhunt on Monday morning by capturing three family members in a village in the Karak governorate. The arrests followed a violent attack on a Greek Orthodox church on Friday that left eight people dead and 34 others injured.
Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed the capture in a statement on Monday. He said the three suspects are Jordanians and part of the same family, including two brothers. He noted that security services identified the individuals early in the investigation and used all available resources to find them.
The standoff took place in an abandoned house in the village of al-Jadeeda. A government source told Al Jazeera that the gun battle lasted approximately three hours. The Public Security Directorate reported that the suspects refused to surrender and opened fire on security forces before being subdued. One suspect was critically injured during the raid.
Security forces recovered firearms and ammunition from the hideout, according to the state news agency Petra. Al-Farrayeh said investigators are still examining the details of the attack. He stated that everyone involved in the terrorist act will be taken to justice. The ministry did not name the suspects or link them to a specific armed group.
The original attack occurred at St George’s Church in the village of Hamoud. Armed men entered the compound during a funeral procession on Friday. Security camera footage showed three individuals shooting outside the building and then firing at a group of men trying to flee the scene. Authorities described the attackers as extremist terrorists with no ties to other groups.
King Abdullah II ordered a strong response to the attack on the Christian minority. He met with the victims and addressed the National Security Council on Saturday. He called the security and safety of Jordanians a red line. The king said the hand of justice would reach every terrorist involved in the incident.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared three days of national mourning starting on Friday. Flags were flown at half-mast over government and public institutions. The victims were buried in Karak on Sunday. Their coffins were draped with Jordanian flags during a funeral attended by a large crowd and a heavy security presence.
Al-Farrayeh said the government is reviewing factors that lead young people toward extremism. He urged citizens to remain calm and reject violence. He promised practical measures to protect civilians following the tragedy. The attack is rare in a country where Christians make up between 2 and 3 percent of the population.
Source: Al Jazeera
