Jordan Arrests Three After Deadly Church Attack

Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects on Oct. 26 in connection with an attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, in the Karak governorate, three days earlier. The attack occurred during a funeral and killed nine people, while 40 others were wounded. Witnesses said the shooting continued for several minutes. According to Jordan’s Public Security Directorate, officers found the suspects hiding in an abandoned house in Karak. The suspects refused to surrender and exchanged fire with security forces, who wounded and detained all three. No security personnel were injured. Authorities said they found firearms and ammunition in the suspects’ possession. The directorate condemned the attack, saying, “Terrorism has no place among us,” and that the suspects had met their “just fate.” King Abdullah ordered security forces to respond with an “iron fist.” Jordan is a US partner in the fight against Islamist militant groups, but violence against the country’s Christian minority is described as highly unusual. Authorities have said they foiled several Islamist militant plots over the years. Officials have not named the arrested suspects or publicly confirmed any affiliation with militant groups. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities were examining the circumstances that led young people towards extremism and would hold accountable anyone found to have participated in the attack.

Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects in connection with a deadly attack on a church in Hamoud village, in Karak governorate, according to state-run Petra news agency. The attack killed nine people and injured 40. Authorities said they found the suspects hiding in an abandoned house early on Monday. The suspects opened fire when officers approached; security forces returned fire and arrested all three after they were wounded. No officers were injured, and firearms and ammunition were seized. Officials have not identified the suspects’ affiliations or confirmed whether they belong to a known militant organisation. Interior Minister Mazen Al Farrayeh said on Friday that extremists carried out the attack, but cautioned that it was too early to establish whether they had links to groups inside or outside Jordan. No group has claimed responsibility. The arrests followed public mourning for the victims. Hundreds of Jordanians attended a funeral service at the church on Sunday, honouring eight of the nine Christians killed. King Abdullah II described the shooting as “terrorism,” vowed to pursue those responsible and said the attack would not undermine national unity. The government said it was determined to reassure the public and hold anyone involved accountable.

Queen Rania attended the funeral in Hamoud for people killed in a Friday attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan’s Karak governorate. Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, accompanied by Queen Rania, Princess Rajwa and Princess Salma, conveyed King Abdullah II’s condolences to the victims’ families, according to Jordan’s state-run Petra agency. The funeral took place at the church where the attack occurred, during a funeral service. Nine men were killed, including a doctor and a dentist. Most belonged to the Halasah clan, described as one of Jordan’s most prominent Christian families. The article says the attack was the deadliest against Jordan’s Christian minority since the 1950s. It also notes that it was not immediately clear why only eight of the nine victims were buried in Hamoud. Jordan’s Ministry of Interior confirmed that three suspects were detained on Monday morning. King Abdullah called the assault “terrorism” and visited injured people in hospital on Friday, where he spoke with them about their condition, according to footage broadcast by state-owned television. Queen Rania prayed for the victims and comforted relatives. Karak, the site of the attack, is about 100 kilometres south of Amman.