Jordanian police capture three relatives after three-hour standoff in Karak
The men, identified as part of one family, were detained in an abandoned house following the Friday attack on St. George's Church that killed eight.
By Elizabeth Morales ·
Jordanian security forces detained three suspects on Monday morning in connection with the Friday attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate. Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed the arrests at a press conference, stating that the men were identified early in the investigation.
The suspects, all Jordanian nationals, were hiding in an abandoned house in the village of al-Jadeeda. According to the Public Security Directorate, the men refused to surrender and opened fire on officers. A government source stated that the exchange of gunfire lasted approximately three hours before the men were subdued. One suspect suffered critical injuries during the raid, while the other two sustained severe wounds. Authorities recovered firearms and ammunition from the hideout.
A senior security official told reporters that the three men belong to the same family and include two brothers. Investigators have not found ties between the suspects and other armed groups. No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack. Al-Farrayeh described the men as "extremists" who "put up fierce resistance" during the operation. He noted that several locations were searched before officers surrounded the final hideout.
The attack took place during a funeral procession at St. George's Church in the village of Hamoud. Armed men stormed the compound, killing eight people and wounding 34 others. Security camera footage shows three individuals shooting outside the church and firing on a group of men attempting to flee the building. Hamoud is located six minutes by car from al-Jadeeda, where the suspects were captured.
King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond to the attack with an "iron fist." Speaking at a National Security Council meeting on Saturday, the King declared that the safety of Jordanians is "a red line." Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared three days of national mourning, with flags at half-mast over government institutions. The eight victims were buried in Karak on Sunday in a funeral attended by a large crowd under heavy security.
Al-Farrayeh said authorities are examining the circumstances that push young people toward extremism. He urged citizens to stay calm and reject violence. The minister stated that the tragedy would lead to practical measures to protect civilians. He added that everyone involved in the attack "will be taken to justice."
Source: Al Jazeera
