Three-Hour Standoff Ends in Karak

Three hours of gunfire preceded the capture of three suspects in Jordan’s Karak governorate. Security forces detained the men on Monday following the deadly assault on a Greek Orthodox church that took place on Friday.

Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed that all three detainees are Jordanian nationals. According to the Public Security Directorate, the men hid in an abandoned house in the village of al-Jadeeda. They refused to surrender and opened fire on officers. A government source stated that the exchange of weapons lasted approximately three hours. The village is located a six-minute drive from Hamoud, where the church is situated.

Officials described the suspects as members of a single family, including two brothers. A senior security official told journalists that authorities found no links to other organizations. Al-Farrayeh noted that the men put up fierce resistance. The directorate reported that one detainee was critically injured during the standoff. State news agency Petra said that firearms and ammunition were recovered from the hideout. Al-Farrayeh added that security teams raided several sites before surrounding the final location.

Authorities have not released the names of the suspects. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Al-Farrayeh characterized the attackers as extremists with no relationship to humanity. He stated at a press conference that the investigation is ongoing. The minister also declared that Jordan is adamant that such an attack does not happen again.

The initial attack struck St George’s Church in Hamoud. Armed men entered the compound during a funeral procession on Friday. The assault killed eight people and wounded 34 others. Security footage showed three individuals shooting outside the church and firing on men who tried to flee the building.

King Abdullah II ordered a strong response from security forces. He described the safety of Jordanians as a red line during a National Security Council meeting on Saturday. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared three days of national mourning beginning on Friday. Flags were lowered at half-mast over government buildings.

The eight victims were buried in Karak on Sunday. A large crowd attended the funeral under heavy security. Coffins draped in Jordanian flags were carried through the mourners. Mohammad al-Qasous, a Christian, was among the victims shown in images on social media. Karak hosts a Christian community in a Muslim-majority kingdom where Christians comprise 2 percent to 3 percent of the population.