Jordan captures three men after church funeral attack

Jordanian security forces detained three men on Monday following a shootout in the Karak governorate. The suspects were taken into custody during a dawn operation south of the capital, Amman. All three men were wounded in the exchange, while no members of the security forces sustained injuries.

The initial violence occurred on Friday in the village of Hammoud. Three men opened fire while a funeral was being held at a local Greek Orthodox church. Karak is home to a small Christian minority population. No armed group has publicly claimed responsibility for the shooting, and authorities have not accused any specific organization of carrying it out.

Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya identified the three arrested individuals as the perpetrators. Speaking by phone to the state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka, Al-Faraya stated that security services had fulfilled their duties, resulting in the capture of those who carried out the act. He noted that the suspects put up fierce resistance but were subdued and taken into custody with severe injuries. Al-Faraya added that the men had been identified early in the investigation.

The Public Security Directorate issued a statement saying terrorism has no place among the people. According to Reuters, the directorate said the men had met their just fate but did not name the suspects or point to links with Islamist militant groups. King Abdullah II directed authorities to respond with an iron fist against those he described as the outlaws of Islam and anyone seeking to undermine national unity.

The three suspects remain in custody following their capture in Karak. The security forces completed the operation without further incidents.