Jordan captures three suspects after church raid

Three Jordanian men have been taken into custody following a three-hour exchange of gunfire with security forces in the village of al-Jadeeda. The suspects are linked to the attack on St George's Church in Hamoud, which occurred on Friday and killed at least eight people. Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed the arrests on Monday, stating that all three are Jordanian nationals identified early in the investigation.

The men were hiding in an abandoned house in al-Jadeeda, a location just six minutes by car from the church. According to the Public Security Directorate, the suspects refused to surrender and opened fire on officers. A government source told Al Jazeera that the firefight lasted approximately three hours before the men were subdued. One of the suspects was critically injured, while the others sustained severe wounds. State news agency Petra reported that firearms and ammunition were recovered from the hideout.

A senior security official told journalists that the three men belong to the same family and include two brothers. Authorities have found no ties to other groups, and no organization has claimed responsibility for the attack. Al-Farrayeh described the attackers as "extremists" with "no relationship to humanity" and said the investigation continues. He noted that the men "put up fierce resistance" during the raid.

The original assault took place during a funeral procession at the Greek Orthodox 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 a group of men attempting to flee. King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond with an "iron fist" and declared that the safety of Jordanians is a "red line."

Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared three days of national mourning beginning Friday. Flags were flown at half-mast over government and public institutions. The eight victims were buried in Karak on Sunday. The funeral drew a large crowd, with coffins draped in Jordanian flags carried through the mourners under heavy security.

Al-Farrayeh posted on X that officials are examining the circumstances that push young people toward extremism. He urged citizens to stay calm and reject violence, promising practical measures to protect civilians. The attack has drawn attention to the Christian community in Karak, where Christians make up a small percentage of the population in the Muslim-majority kingdom.