Jordanian security forces have arrested three men suspected of carrying out a brutal attack on a Greek Orthodox church that left nine people dead and dozens more injured. The suspects were apprehended Monday morning following a violent shootout with police in the Karak governorate, located south of Amman. While all three suspects sustained severe injuries during the confrontation, officials confirmed that no members of the security services were hurt during the operation.
The tragedy unfolded last Friday in the village of Hammoud, where gunmen opened fire during a funeral service. The community was already mourning previous losses when the attackers struck, leaving behind a scene of devastation at Saint George’s Greek Orthodox Church. Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya told state television that while the suspects put up fierce resistance before being subdued, they had been identified early in the investigation and tracked down through an extensive manhunt.
Despite the arrests, authorities have not yet named the individuals or linked them to any specific Islamist militant groups, and no organization has claimed responsibility for the massacre. In response to the violence, King Abdullah II called for an iron fist approach against those he described as outlaws of Islam who seek to fracture the unity of Jordan’s diverse population. The Public Security Directorate emphasized that terrorism has no place in the country as investigations continue into the motive behind the slaughter.
