Jordan arrests three suspects in deadly church attack | Gun violence news

The suspects refused to surrender and attacked security forces, who responded, injured and arrested them, according to authorities.

Security forces have arrested three armed suspects in Jordan after days of searching for the attackers who killed eight people and injured dozens at a church in Jordan’s Karak governorate, state media reported.

The suspects were located on Monday while hiding in an abandoned house in Al-Jadeeda village in Karak, Jordan’s Directorate of Public Security said.

They refused to surrender and attacked security forces, who retaliated and arrested all three after wounding them, the leadership said in a statement published by state media.

A Jordanian government source told Al Jazeera that the attackers were seriously injured during the clash with security forces.

One of the suspects is in critical condition due to injuries sustained during the fighting, which lasted about three hours, the source said.

No casualties were reported among security personnel and a search of the site revealed firearms and live ammunition, according to Jordan’s Petra news agency.

“Terrorism has no place among us,” the leadership said, adding that the suspects had met their “just fate,” without mentioning specific affiliated groups.

In a statement released Monday morning, government Communications Minister Mohammad Momani praised the efforts of security forces involved in what he described as a successful joint operation. Momani confirmed that the three suspects were injured and taken into custody following fighting after refusing to surrender.

On Friday, three gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud in Karak, about 120 km (75 miles) southwest of the capital, Amman, killing eight people and injuring 40, according to Jordan’s Health Ministry.

Among the injured, 27 were still hospitalized Monday. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in the town of Karak said one person was in critical condition after undergoing surgery.

Karak is home to many members of Jordan’s Christian minority, which makes up about 300,000 of the country’s 11.5 million people.

King Abdullah II said those responsible for the attack would face “the most severe penalties”, while offering his condolences to the families of the victims. He ordered a review of the country’s security procedures to respond to the attacks.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya added that authorities were examining the circumstances that “led” the youths to resort to violence and would hold anyone suspected of taking part in the attack accountable.