Jordan arrests three suspects in dawn raid after church attack

Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects on Monday morning after a three-hour firefight in the village of al-Jadeeda. The men were hiding in an abandoned house in Karak governorate, located 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. Authorities said the suspects are from a single family and include two brothers.

Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh stated that the suspects were identified early in the investigation. He noted that security services used all available methods to locate them. The Public Security Directorate reported that the men refused to surrender and opened fire on the responding forces. The suspects sustained injuries during the raid, with one reported in critical condition.

The arrests follow an attack on Friday at St. George's Church in the nearby village of Hamoud. Armed men entered the church compound during a funeral procession. The shooting left eight people dead and 34 others wounded. This event marked a rare violent incident against the Christian minority in the Muslim-majority kingdom.

Security officials described the attackers as extremist terrorists. Al-Farrayeh said the group has no relationship to humanity, though no specific organization has claimed responsibility. A senior security official told reporters that authorities have not found ties between the suspects and other armed groups. The ministry said it is continuing its investigation into the incident.

King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond with an iron fist to the attack. He stated during a National Security Council meeting that the safety of Jordanians is a red line. The Prime Minister, Jafar Hassan, ordered three days of national mourning starting Friday. Flags were flown at half-mast over government buildings during the period.

Funerals for the eight victims took place in Karak on Sunday. A large crowd gathered to pay respects as coffins draped in Jordanian flags were carried through the streets. A heavy security presence surrounded the event. The church is located near a medieval-era castle and is a central part of the local community.

Footage from security cameras showed three individuals shooting outside the church before running toward the entrance. Other videos captured attackers firing at men attempting to flee the building. The state news agency Petra reported that firearms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects' hideout. The village of al-Jadeeda is a six-minute drive from the site of the attack.

Al-Farrayeh posted on social media that the country is examining the circumstances that lead young people toward extremism. He urged citizens to remain calm and reject violence. The government said it will hold accountable everyone found to be involved in the terrorist act. The suspects remain in custody as inquiries continue.