Jordan Arrests Three Armed Suspects After Deadly Church Attack in Karak

Jordanian security forces have taken three armed suspects into custody after several days of searching for the attackers behind a deadly shooting at a church in Karak governorate, state media reported on Monday.

According to a statement from Jordan's Public Security Directorate carried by state media, the suspects were found hiding in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda in Karak. The directorate said they refused to give themselves up and attacked the security forces, who returned fire. All three were arrested after being wounded.

A Jordanian government source told Al Jazeera that the suspects suffered serious injuries during the clash. The source said one of them was in critical condition, and that the fighting lasted about three hours.

Jordan's Petra News Agency reported that no members of the security forces were hurt. A search of the site turned up firearms and live ammunition, it said.

"Terrorism has no place among us," the directorate said, adding that the suspects had met their "just fate." The statement did not name any group the suspects might be linked to.

Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani praised the security forces in a post on X early on Monday, describing the operation as a successful joint effort. He confirmed that all three suspects were wounded and detained after they refused to surrender.

The attack took place on Friday, when three gunmen opened fire at a funeral being held at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud in Karak, about 120km (75 miles) southwest of the capital, Amman. Jordan's Ministry of Health said eight people were killed and 40 were injured.

By Monday, 27 of the wounded were still in hospital. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in the city of Karak said one patient remained in critical condition after surgery.

Karak is home to many members of Jordan's Christian minority, which numbers about 300,000 people in a country of 11.5 million.

King Abdullah II offered condolences to the families of the victims and said those responsible would face the "harshest penalties." He has also ordered a review of the country's security procedures for responding to attacks. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities were examining the circumstances that lead young people to embrace violence, and that anyone found to have taken part in the attack would be held accountable.