Three suspects were arrested after the armed attack on an Orthodox church in Jordan, which left nine people dead

Three suspects were arrested on Monday in Jordan, following the armed attack carried out on Friday against a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud, in the Karak Governorate, in the south of the country. The attack left nine people dead and 25 injured and represents one of the most serious incidents targeting the Christian community in the kingdom.

The three suspects were captured in an abandoned house following an exchange of fire with security forces. All three were wounded in the confrontation, while no member of the security forces was injured, according to Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya.

The Public Security Directorate announced that the attackers entered the church premises and opened fire on a funeral procession. The interior minister stated that the authorities were checking all the circumstances that may have pushed the suspects toward extremism and that anyone whose involvement is established will be brought to justice.

King Abdullah II described the incident as a terrorist attack and promised that the harshest penalties would be imposed. He visited those hospitalized in Karak. Following the attack, three days of national mourning were declared in Jordan, and the flags at public institutions were flown at half-mast.