Jordan arrests three men linked to Hamoud church shooting

Jordanian security forces captured three armed men on Monday in connection with a church attack.

The shooting occurred on Friday during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud. The village is located in the Karak governorate, about 120 kilometres southwest of Amman. Witnesses reported that gunfire continued for several minutes. The violence left nine people dead and 40 others wounded.

Police tracked the suspects to an abandoned house in Karak. The men refused to surrender and opened fire on security personnel. Officers returned fire, wounding the suspects and taking them into custody. The Public Security Directorate stated that no security personnel were injured during the exchange. Officers also recovered multiple firearms and ammunition from the scene.

Authorities have labeled the attackers as extremist terrorists, though no group has claimed responsibility. The directorate did not release the suspects' names or identify specific ties to militant organizations. King Abdullah ordered security forces to respond with an iron fist to the assault. He emphasized that Jordan is a key partner for the United States in fighting Islamist militant groups.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are examining what pushed young people toward extremism. He added that anyone found to have participated in the attack would face accountability. Jordan is considered stable in the Middle East, but officials have disrupted several militant plots in previous years.