Jordanian Police Arrest Three Wounded Men Following Karak Church Funeral Shooting

Jordanian security forces arrested three men on Monday morning following a shootout in the Karak governorate, south of the capital Amman. The Public Security Directorate confirmed that all three suspects were wounded during the operation, while no members of the security forces were injured. The arrests conclude a brief manhunt that began after an attack on a Greek Orthodox church on Friday.

The initial violence occurred in the village of Hammoud, a community with a small Christian population. The attack happened while a funeral service was being held at the church. Reports indicated that three men were involved in the incident. No group has officially claimed responsibility for the shooting, and no armed organization has been publicly accused of planning the act.

Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya spoke to the state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka to confirm the identities of the detainees. He stated that the security services had fulfilled their duties by capturing the individuals responsible for what he termed a terrorist act. Al-Faraya noted that the suspects put up fierce resistance but were subdued despite sustaining severe injuries. He added that the three men had been identified shortly after the incident, allowing authorities to use all available means to apprehend them.

The Public Security Directorate released a statement asserting that terrorism has no place in Jordan and that the men had met their just fate. Reuters reported that the directorate did not name the suspects or indicate any links to Islamist militant groups. King Abdullah II directed authorities to respond with an iron fist against those he described as outlaws of Islam and anyone seeking to undermine the unity of the Jordanian people.