Jordanian Police End Three-Hour Standoff in Karak Village

Security forces in Jordan ended a three-hour gun battle on Monday morning after capturing three men suspected of killing eight people at a church in Karak. The suspects, who are members of the same family, were found hiding in an abandoned house in the village of al-Jadeeda. They refused to surrender and opened fire on officers, resulting in a standoff that lasted until the men were subdued. One suspect was critically injured during the exchange, while the other two sustained severe wounds.

Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh stated that the three Jordanians were identified early in the investigation. He said security services used all available methods to locate them, raiding multiple sites before surrounding the final hideout. The ministry reported that firearms and ammunition were recovered from the location. A senior security official told journalists that authorities found no links between the suspects and other armed groups. The Public Security Directorate noted that the suspects had met their just fate, emphasizing that terrorism has no place in Jordan.

The attack occurred on Friday at St. George’s Church in the village of Hamoud, which is known for its medieval castle. Armed men entered the compound during a funeral procession. They killed eight people and wounded 34 others. Video footage showed the shooters firing from outside the building before moving toward the entrance. Authorities described the attackers as extremist terrorists. No group has officially claimed responsibility for the incident, although al-Farrayeh described the perpetrators as a group with no relationship to humanity.

King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond to the attack with an iron fist. He met with victims and declared the security and safety of Jordanians a red line. The Prime Minister, Jafar Hassan, ordered three days of national mourning. Flags were flown at half-mast over government buildings starting Friday. Al-Farrayeh urged citizens to remain calm and said the government would take practical measures to protect civilians. He promised that everyone involved in the act would be taken to justice.

Eight victims were buried in Karak on Sunday. Their coffins were draped with Jordanian flags as they were carried through a large crowd of mourners. A heavy security presence surrounded the funeral. The victims included Mohammad al-Qasous, a Christian member of the community. Karak is home to a distinct Christian minority in the Muslim-majority country, where Christians make up between two and three percent of the population. Investigations into the specific circumstances that led to the attack are ongoing.

The next step in the process involves the formal review of evidence collected from the hideout. Prosecutors will examine the weapons and ammunition recovered from the suspects. The security forces will continue to monitor the region as part of the response ordered by the National Security Council. The official mourning period concluded on Monday, marking the end of the initial national response phase.