Jordan arrests three armed suspects after shootout linked to deadly church attack

Karak, Jordan. Jordanian security forces wounded and detained three armed suspects during a shootout on Monday, state television reported. The arrests were linked to a church attack that left nine people dead.

Suspects found in abandoned house

In a statement carried by state media, Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said officers found the suspects hiding inside an abandoned house in Karak. According to the directorate, the men rejected demands to surrender and attacked the security forces, prompting officers to return fire.

All three suspects were wounded before being arrested, the directorate said. It reported no injuries among security personnel and said several firearms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

The directorate released neither their names nor any possible links to Islamist militant organisations.

Funeral targeted in Hamoud

The attack took place on Friday during a funeral held at a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, a village in Karak governorate roughly 120 km (75 miles) southwest of Amman. In addition to the nine deaths, 40 people were wounded. Witnesses reported that gunfire continued for several minutes.

Jordanian authorities have attributed the attack to “extremist terrorists”, but nobody has claimed responsibility.

The directorate said terrorism had no place in Jordanian society and described the suspects’ fate as deserved.

King orders forceful response

King Abdullah instructed security forces to respond with an “iron fist” to the attack on Jordan’s Christian minority. The king is a US partner against Islamist militant groups, and Jordan is allied with the United States.

Violence of this kind is rare in Jordan, a comparatively stable Middle Eastern country. Authorities say they have thwarted several plots by Islamist militants over the years.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said officials were examining the circumstances drawing young people towards extremism. He said anyone found to have taken part in the attack would face accountability.