Three Wounded Gunmen Detained in Karak Church Case

Jordanian security forces detained three armed men on Monday following a firefight in Karak governorate. State television reported that the arrests connect to a deadly attack at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud.

The initial shooting occurred on Friday during a funeral service. Witnesses stated that gunfire continued for several minutes. The attack killed nine people and wounded forty others. The village sits roughly 120 km southwest of Amman.

According to a statement from the Public Security Directorate, officers located the three suspects hiding inside an abandoned house. The men refused to surrender and opened fire on the security team. Police returned fire, wounding all three before taking them into custody. Officials confirmed that no security personnel were hurt during the exchange. Investigators recovered several firearms and ammunition from the suspects.

The directorate described the attackers as "extremist terrorists" but did not name them or link them to a specific Islamist group. No organization has claimed responsibility for the violence. The statement added that the suspects met their "just fate" and noted that terrorism has no place among Jordan's citizens.

King Abdullah ordered security forces to use an "iron fist" in response to the attack, which targeted the country's Christian minority. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said officials are examining the circumstances that drive young people toward extremism. He added that anyone found to have participated in the attack would be held accountable. Violent incidents of this scale are rare in the region.

The directorate said it is reviewing the events leading up to the shooting. The three men remain in custody as the investigation continues.