Jordan arrests three family members

Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects on Monday morning after a three-hour gun battle in the village of al-Jadeeda. The suspects are family members linked to a Friday attack on a Greek Orthodox church in the nearby village of Hamoud. The raid concluded a search that spanned multiple locations in the Karak governorate.

Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed the arrests during a press conference on Monday. He stated that the three men are Jordanians and belong to the same family, specifically two brothers. Authorities identified the suspects shortly after the initial attack but did not apprehend them until Monday. Al-Farrayeh said the men resisted capture and sustained severe injuries during the exchange of fire.

The suspects were hiding in an abandoned house in al-Jadeeda. The Public Security Directorate reported that the men refused to surrender and opened fire on security forces. One of the suspects is critically injured, while the others are wounded. Officers recovered firearms and ammunition from the hideout. A government source told Al Jazeera that the firefight lasted approximately three hours.

The original attack occurred on Friday during a funeral procession at St. George’s Church in Hamoud. Armed men stormed the compound, killing eight people and wounding 34 others. Security camera footage shows three individuals shooting outside the church and firing on men attempting to flee. Hamoud is located about six minutes by car from al-Jadeeda, where the suspects were finally cornered.

King Abdullah II ordered a strong security response to the incident. He described the safety of Jordanians as a red line during a National Security Council meeting on Saturday. The king stated that the security forces would respond with an iron fist to the attack on the Christian minority. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan ordered three days of national mourning beginning on Friday. Flags are flying at half-mast on government buildings.

Al-Farrayeh said investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the plot. He noted that no ties to other armed groups have been found yet. The interior minister described the attackers as extremists with no relationship to humanity. He added that everyone involved in the terrorist act will be taken to justice. The security directorate emphasized that terrorism has no place in Jordan.

Karak governorate is located 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. The region has a small Christian community within the Muslim-majority kingdom. Christians make up between 2 percent and 3 percent of Jordan's total population. The attack was rare for the area, prompting a large security presence in the region.

Eight victims were buried in Karak on Sunday. Their coffins were draped with Jordanian flags as they were carried through a large crowd of mourners. One victim identified in social media posts is Mohammad al-Qasous, a Christian. The funerals drew significant attention and a heavy police presence to ensure order.

Al-Farrayeh urged citizens to remain calm and reject violence. He said the tragedy would lead to practical measures to protect civilians. The government is examining circumstances that lead young people toward extremism. No group has officially claimed responsibility for the shooting in Hamoud.