Three Hours: The Duration of the Gun Battle That Ended Jordan’s Church Attack Hunt
Jordanian security forces engaged three family members in a three-hour firefight in a village near Karak, capturing them after a deadly assault on a Greek Orthodox church.
By Rachel Wilson ·
Security forces in Jordan captured three suspects after a three-hour gun battle in a village in Karak governorate.
The operation ended a search for the men linked to a Friday attack on St George’s Church in Hamoud, which left eight people dead and 34 others wounded.
The attack occurred on Friday when armed men stormed the church compound during a funeral procession.
King Abdullah II ordered a forceful response on Friday, describing the security of Jordanians as a red line.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared three days of national mourning starting Friday.
Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh announced the arrests on Monday.
Al-Farrayeh stated that the three suspects were Jordanian family members, including two brothers, who had been identified early in the investigation.
The suspects were hiding in an abandoned house in the village of al-Jadeeda.
They refused to surrender and opened fire on security forces, leading to a three-hour engagement.
The village of al-Jadeeda is a six-minute drive from Hamoud, where the church was located.
Al-Farrayeh said the suspects sustained severe injuries and that one was critically hurt.
Security forces recovered firearms and ammunition from the hideout, according to the state news agency Petra. The Public Security Directorate said the suspects had met their just fate. The suspects are from one family, and authorities have not found ties to other groups. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Al-Farrayeh said investigations are ongoing and that everyone involved will be taken to justice. He added that Jordan is adamant that an attack like this does not happen again. He also called for citizens to remain calm and said the tragedy would result in practical measures to protect civilians. The victims were laid to rest in Karak on Sunday in a funeral that drew a large crowd. Their coffins were draped with Jordanian flags. Karak is home to a minority Christian community in the Muslim-majority kingdom. Social media showed images of the victims, including Mohammad al-Qasous, a Christian.
Source: Al Jazeera
