Jordanian security forces have successfully apprehended three armed suspects following an extensive manhunt for the perpetrators of a mass shooting at a church in the country's Karak governorate. The violent assault, which targeted a funeral gathering at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud, resulted in eight fatalities and left approximately 40 people wounded.
The suspects were tracked down to an abandoned house in the nearby village of Al-Jadeeda. According to the Public Security Directorate, the armed individuals refused orders to surrender and instead opened fire on law enforcement personnel, prompting officers to return fire and arrest all three suspects after wounding them during a three-hour confrontation.
A government source indicated that the attackers suffered serious injuries during the exchange, with one suspect listed in critical condition. Authorities confirmed that no members of the security forces were injured during the operation, and investigators recovered firearms and live ammunition from the scene.
Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani praised the joint security operation on social media following the arrests. The Public Security Directorate issued a statement emphasizing that terrorism has no place in the country, though officials did not immediately link the suspects to any specific militant organization.
Following the tragedy, King Abdullah II condemned the violence and demanded the harshest penalties for those responsible while ordering a comprehensive review of national security response procedures. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya noted that investigators are examining the underlying causes that lead youths toward violent extremism and vowed to hold accountable anyone connected to the conspiracy.
Health officials reported that nearly 30 of the injured victims remained hospitalized days after the incident, including individuals undergoing critical surgeries. The Karak region holds a significant population of Jordan's Christian minority, who make up roughly 300,000 residents within the nation's broader population of 11.5 million.