Jordanian Police Wound and Detain Three Men Hiding in Karak
The suspects were found in an abandoned house after a three-hour standoff, days following a Friday shooting at a Greek Orthodox church that left eight dead.
By Pablo Kuznetsov ·
Jordanian security forces detained three armed men on Monday after a three-hour exchange of fire at an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda. The suspects, linked to a deadly attack on a church in Karak governorate, were found hiding in the structure. Police said the men refused to surrender and opened fire on officers, who returned fire until all three were wounded and taken into custody.
A government source stated that the suspects sustained serious injuries during the clash. One of the men remained in critical condition following the firefight. Petra News Agency reported that no members of the security force were hurt. Officers recovered firearms and live ammunition from the site during a subsequent search.
The Public Security Directorate issued a statement confirming the arrests. The directorate noted that the suspects had met their just fate and asserted that terrorism has no place in the country. The statement did not identify any specific group to which the men belonged. Mohammad Momani, the government communication minister, described the operation as a successful joint effort in a post on X early Monday.
The suspects are accused of participating in a shooting that occurred on Friday at a funeral held at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud. Located approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Amman, the site was targeted by three gunmen. The Ministry of Health reported that eight people were killed and 40 were injured in the attack.
As of Monday, 27 of the wounded individuals remained in hospital care. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak confirmed that one patient remained in critical condition after undergoing surgery. The Karak governorate is home to a large portion of Jordan's Christian minority, a demographic that numbers approximately 300,000 people in a nation of 11.5 million.
King Abdullah II extended condolences to the families of the victims and stated that those responsible would face the harshest penalties. The monarch ordered a review of national security procedures for responding to attacks. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are examining the circumstances that lead young people to embrace violence and pledged that anyone found to have participated in the attack would be held accountable.
Source: Al Jazeera
