Three Jordanian men arrested after standoff in Karak village

Jordanian security forces detained three men on Monday in connection with the Friday attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate. The suspects are Jordanian nationals who hid in an abandoned house in the village of al-Jadeeda, a six-minute drive from the church site in Hamoud.

The operation ended a manhunt that began after armed men stormed St George's Church during a funeral procession. The assault killed eight people and wounded 34. Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh stated that the suspects belonged to one family and included two brothers. He said the men resisted capture and were arrested with severe injuries, with one critically hurt.

A government source told Al Jazeera that the exchange of gunfire between officers and the suspects lasted about three hours. The Public Security Directorate reported that firearms and ammunition were recovered from the hideout. Al-Farrayeh said security forces raided several locations and widened the search until the men were surrounded.

Authorities have not named the suspects or linked them to any armed group. No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack. A senior security official told journalists that the suspects are Jordanian nationals and that officials found no ties to other groups. Al-Farrayeh described the attackers as extremists with no relationship to humanity.

King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond with an iron fist to the attack on the country's Christian minority. Speaking at a National Security Council meeting on Saturday, he said the safety of Jordanians is a red line. He promised that the hand of justice will reach every terrorist. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared three days of national mourning beginning Friday.

The eight victims were buried in Karak on Sunday at a funeral that drew a large crowd. Coffins draped in Jordanian flags were carried through mourners under heavy security. Karak has a large Christian community in a Muslim-majority kingdom where Christians make up between 2 percent and 3 percent of the population.

Al-Farrayeh said on social media that officials are examining the circumstances that push young people toward extremism. He urged citizens to stay calm and reject violence. He said the tragedy would lead to practical measures to protect civilians.