Jordan arrests three over deadly Karak church attack

Jordanian security forces apprehended three suspects in connection with a deadly attack on a church in Karak governorate, which claimed nine lives and injured 40 others, according to state-run Petra news agency. The assailants, who opened fire on the church in the village of Hamoud, were hiding in an abandoned house when the security forces located them early Monday.

The suspects resisted arrest and returned fire, but were eventually captured after sustaining injuries. No security personnel were harmed, and weapons were seized during the operation. The Public Security Directorate did not disclose the affiliation of the suspects, nor did they specify if they were part of any militant group. Interior Minister Mazen Al Faraya affirmed the government's commitment to addressing the tragedy by taking decisive action, stating that the perpetrators would be held accountable.

While Al Faraya initially attributed the attack to extremists, he emphasized that it was premature to determine any potential links to known groups within or outside Jordan. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident. The attack prompted hundreds of Jordanians to gather for a funeral service at the same church, held on Sunday.

King Abdullah had previously vowed to respond with force to the attack, vowing to apprehend those responsible and emphasizing that the incident would not diminish national unity, describing it as "terrorism".