Jordan Arrests Three Suspects Following Deadly Church Shooting Attack

Jordanian security forces have arrested three suspects following a deadly shooting attack that killed at least nine people and wounded dozens of others at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the southern Karak province town of Hmoud, according to multiple news reports. The violence erupted when multiple gunmen opened fire on a crowd gathered for a funeral.

Dawn Raids and Shootout Lead to Arrests

Jordanian authorities apprehended the three suspects during a dawn raid following a shootout, BBC reported.

Eyewitness Accounts of the Funeral Attack

Survivors and witnesses described a scene of sudden terror as mourners gathered outside and inside the church. Father Yohanna Hamati told AFP that approximately 170 to 200 people were participating in the funeral services when a volley of bullets began outside shortly after 2 p.m. Another witness, Tamer Halasa, told state-run Al-Mamlaka television that two individuals emerged from a vehicle and started shooting at people gathered in the courtyard. Witnesses reported that the assailants shouted Allahu Akbar while targeting the crowd, forcing terrified attendees to hide behind the altar to survive.

Official Responses and National Condemnation

King Abdullah condemned the attack, stating on X that Jordan will respond harshly and strike those who transgress against the country with an iron fist. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan mobilized all state agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice. Regional and international bodies, including the governments of Iraq and Israel, also issued statements condemning the violence against a place of worship and expressing solidarity with the victims’ families.

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