Jordan arrests three family members linked to deadly church raid

Jordanian security forces detained three suspects on Monday in connection with the Friday attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate. The incident killed at least eight people and wounded 34 others. Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed that all three men are Jordanian nationals who were identified early in the investigation.

The suspects, who belong to the same family and include two brothers, were hiding in an abandoned house in the village of al-Jadeeda. This location is a six-minute drive from Hamoud, where the church is located. The men refused to surrender and opened fire on officers. A government source stated that the exchange of gunfire lasted approximately three hours before the officers subdued the suspects. One of the men sustained critical injuries during the confrontation.

State news agency Petra reported that officials recovered firearms and ammunition from the hideout. Al-Farrayeh said the security forces raided several locations and widened the search perimeter until the men were surrounded. He described the suspects as putting up fierce resistance. A senior security official told journalists that authorities have found no ties between the suspects and other armed groups. No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Armed men stormed St. George's Church in Hamoud during a funeral procession on Friday. Security camera footage shows three individuals shooting outside the building and firing on a group of men attempting to flee. Al-Farrayeh characterized the attackers as extremists with no relationship to humanity. He stated that the investigation is ongoing and that everyone involved will be taken to justice.

King Abdullah II addressed the National Security Council on Saturday following the attack. He ordered security forces to respond with an iron fist and declared the safety of Jordanians a red line. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared three days of national mourning beginning Friday. Flags flew at half-mast over government and public institutions during this period.

The eight victims were buried in Karak on Sunday. A large crowd attended the funeral, which was conducted under heavy security. Coffins draped in Jordanian flags were carried through the mourners. Karak has a notable Christian community in a Muslim-majority country where Christians constitute between 2 percent and 3 percent of the population. Images on social media identified one of the victims as Mohammad al-Qasous.