Jordan Captures Three Family Members in Karak Firefight
Security forces arrested three Jordanian men linked to the Friday attack on St. George's Church after a three-hour exchange of gunfire in an abandoned house.
By Daniel Parker ·
Jordanian authorities detained three suspects on Monday in connection with the deadly assault on a Greek Orthodox church in the Karak governorate. The men were taken into custody following a three-hour firefight at an abandoned house in the village of al-Jadeeda.
Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed that all three suspects are Jordanian nationals. The Public Security Directorate stated that the men refused to surrender and opened fire on officers. One suspect sustained critical injuries during the raid. State news agency Petra reported that firearms and ammunition were recovered from the hideout.
A senior security official described the suspects as members of a single family, including two brothers. Officials said they found no ties to other groups. Al-Farrayeh noted that the men put up fierce resistance before being subdued. The village of al-Jadeeda is located six minutes by car from Hamoud, where the church is situated.
The attack occurred on Friday during a funeral procession at St. George's Church in Hamoud. Armed men stormed the compound, killing at least eight people and wounding 34 others. Security footage showed gunmen firing on individuals outside the building. King Abdullah II ordered a strong response, describing the safety of Jordanians as a red line.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared three days of national mourning beginning Friday. Flags were lowered to half-mast over government institutions. Al-Farrayeh stated that the investigation continues and that everyone involved will be taken to justice. He added that Jordan is adamant that such an attack does not happen again.
The eight victims were buried in Karak on Sunday. The funeral drew a large crowd, with coffins draped in Jordanian flags carried through mourners under heavy security. Al-Farrayeh said on social media that officials are examining the circumstances that push young people toward extremism. He urged citizens to stay calm and reject violence.
Karak has a notable Christian community in a Muslim-majority kingdom where Christians make up between 2 percent and 3 percent of the population. One victim, identified in social media images, was Mohammad al-Qasous. No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack, and authorities have not named the suspects publicly.
Source: Al Jazeera
