Jordan arrests three men in church shooting investigation

Jordanian authorities have detained three suspects linked to the attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate. The arrests followed a dawn raid on Monday in the village of al-Jadeeda, located six minutes from the site of the Friday shooting.

Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed that all three men are Jordanian nationals from the same family, including two brothers. He stated that security services identified the suspects shortly after the incident and expanded their search scope until the men were surrounded. The suspects hid in an abandoned house and refused to surrender, leading to an exchange of fire.

A government source told Al Jazeera that the gun battle lasted approximately three hours. All three suspects were taken into custody with severe injuries, with one listed as critically hurt. Security forces recovered firearms and ammunition from the hideout, according to the state news agency Petra.

The attack took place on Friday when armed men stormed the compound of St George’s Church during a funeral procession. Eight people were killed and 34 others were wounded in the shooting. The church, located in the village of Hamoud, is known for its medieval-era castle. Footage from security cameras showed three individuals shooting outside the building and firing at men attempting to flee.

King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond to the incident with an iron fist. During a National Security Council meeting on Saturday, he described the security and safety of Jordanians as a red line and said the hand of justice would reach every terrorist. A day prior to that meeting, he stated the shooting would be met with the harshest retaliation possible.

Prime Minister Jafar Hassan ordered three days of national mourning beginning on Friday. Flags are flown at half-mast over government and public institutions. Al-Farrayeh said on Monday that investigations are ongoing and that everyone involved in the terrorist act will be taken to justice. He urged citizens to remain calm and reject violence.

The victims were buried in Karak on Sunday in a ceremony that drew a large crowd. Their coffins were draped with Jordanian flags as they were carried through the mourners. Karak is home to a Christian minority community within the Muslim-majority kingdom, where Christians make up between 2 and 3 percent of the population. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.