Jordan arrests three suspects in deadly church attack

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 06:01 · Archive

Jordanian security forces have arrested three men for an attack on a Greek Orthodox church that killed nine people.

An attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud village in Karak governorate, about 120 kilometres southwest of Amman, killed nine people and wounded 40 others during a funeral on Friday. Witnesses said the shooting lasted several minutes.

Jordanian security forces arrested three armed suspects after a shootout in an abandoned house in Karak. The men refused to surrender and attacked security forces, who returned fire and arrested all three after wounding them. No security personnel were injured. A number of firearms and ammunition were found in the suspects' possession.

Jordanian authorities have described the violence as carried out by 'extremist terrorists', though there has been no claim of responsibility. King Abdullah ordered security forces to respond with an 'iron fist' to the rare attack on the Christian minority. Such violence is highly unusual in Jordan, a relatively stable state in the Middle East. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities were reviewing the circumstances that led young people towards extremism and would hold accountable anyone found to have taken part in the attack. The Public Security Directorate did not name the suspects or publicly identify possible militant affiliations.

How it is being reported

• Jordan arrests three suspects in deadly church attackJordanian security forces have arrested three men for an attack on a Greek Orthodox church that killed nine people and wounded more than two dozen.Perth Now · 26 Oct, 05:26
• Jordan arrests three suspects in deadly church attackJordanian security forces have arrested three men for an attack on a Greek Orthodox church that killed nine people and wounded more than two dozen.The West Australian · 26 Oct, 05:26

In this story: Jordan · King Abdullah · Hamoud · Amman · Karak · Mazen al-Faraya · Greek Orthodox church

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