Jordanian forces detain three brothers after fierce firefight in Karak

Jordanian security forces concluded a three-hour armed confrontation on Monday morning, capturing three suspects linked to the Friday attack on St. George's Church in Karak governorate. The operation, conducted in the village of al-Jadeeda, resulted in the detention of three men from a single family, including two brothers. All three suspects sustained injuries during the firefight, with one described as critically wounded.

The interior ministry confirmed that the suspects were identified shortly after the initial attack but resisted surrender when authorities moved to apprehend them. Mazin al-Farrayeh, the Interior Minister, stated that security forces engaged the men after they refused to come out of an abandoned house. The directorate reported that the suspects opened fire on the approaching police, prompting a return of gunfire that ended the standoff.

Authorities recovered firearms and ammunition from the hideout, according to the state news agency Petra. Al-Farrayeh noted that the scope of the search expanded across multiple locations before the final operation surrounded the suspects. He emphasized that the men put up fierce resistance before being subdued and taken into custody. The village of al-Jadeeda is located approximately six minutes by car from Hamoud, where the church is situated.

The attack on St. George's Church occurred on Friday during a funeral procession. Armed men entered the compound and opened fire, killing eight people and wounding 34 others. Security camera footage showed three individuals shooting outside the church and firing at men attempting to flee the building. The incident marked a rare violence against the Christian minority in the region.

King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond with an iron fist to the attack, describing the safety of Jordanians as a red line. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared three days of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast over public institutions. Al-Farrayeh stated that the investigation remains ongoing and that all individuals involved in the act will face justice.

The suspects have not been publicly named, and no group has claimed responsibility for the shooting. A senior security official indicated that the men are from one family and that authorities have not found ties to other armed groups. Al-Farrayeh described the perpetrators as extremists with no relationship to humanity, though he did not specify particular organizations.

Funerals for the eight victims were held in Karak on Sunday, drawing large crowds. Coffins draped in Jordanian flags were carried through mourners under heavy security. The Christian community in Karak represents a small portion of the national population, with Christians making up between 2 percent and 3 percent of Jordan's residents. The attack has prompted a review of measures to protect civilians and an examination of factors driving young people toward extremism.