Three armed men detained in Jordan after nine killed in church

Jordanian authorities have secured custody of three armed suspects connected to a funeral mass attack that killed nine people.

The violence erupted on Friday during a service at a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, located roughly 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. Witnesses stated the gunfire lasted for several minutes, leaving 40 others wounded. On Monday, state television reported that security forces engaged the men in a shootout after locating them in an abandoned residence in Karak governorate. The suspects fired on the approaching officers before being wounded and detained. The Public Security Directorate confirmed that all three were armed with multiple firearms and ammunition, and that no security personnel were injured during the exchange.

Officials have labeled the attackers as extremist terrorists, though no group has publicly claimed responsibility for the incident. King Abdullah has directed security forces to respond with an iron fist to the attack on the country's Christian minority. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya stated that investigators are examining the factors driving young people toward extremism and that all participants will be held accountable.

The next step in the investigation involves a formal review of the circumstances surrounding the suspects' recruitment and training. The directorate has not yet named the three men or linked them to a specific Islamist organization.